Are You Happy?

I briefly discussed about happiness in my initial blog - it being subjective. I wish to explore that topic today.

Categorizing happiness as subjective, as we all know, means what makes one person happy may not hold true to another. The question is, at what point do we feel the elation?

I think most of you will agree that we feel jubilant when:

a. We receive a praise for a job well-done

b. Someone gives us a gift or a surprise

c. We get to spend time with people important to us

d. We reach a life goal

e. We were able to buy something we have long saved-up for

f. Someone thanks us for doing something nice or good

Of course, the list is endless, but let me ask you this. Have you ever felt joyful doing something for someone? Obviously, your answer will be affirmative. The follow-up question is, does it still make you feel ecstatic even if the recipient of whatever you did or say does not appreciate your action?

That's ridiculous, you say? How can you be cheerful if after you've held-back on completing your comic book collection just so you can buy your best friend his favorite action figure, the response you got was, "Oh, that's an outdated model." How about when you tried waking up an hour earlier than usual, cleaned-up your room and prepared a simple breakfast to surprise your mom, only to be reprimanded for burning the egg?

On situations as these, is it still possible to be glad? Please don't frown or give me a raised brow if I say, YES. How? By being HAPPY just doing or saying something good. And I speak from experience.

I wake up as early as 4:30 am every school day to get everything ready for my daughter, so that when she wakes up, all she need do is eat, bathe and get ready for school. She's turning 18. My siblings say I pamper her, not giving her responsibilities. I agree but the point I'm getting at is, I feel happy doing those things for her. I don't need her to appreciate what I do because just seeing that everything is ready when she needs anything already gives me joy.

Being a single, working mother gives me the weekend to do the laundry, including those of my grandmothers' and my mom's. Tiring, true, but as soon as I start to hang them and smell the scent of the fabric conditioner, I feel content. I need not hear thank you's or gratitude for job well done. Doing it for them is enough to make my spirits high.

Happiness is subjective. But as to WHEN you feel it makes the difference. You should give it a try. I did.