Be happy in the moment, that is enough
As we enter a new year, it brings memories of months gone by: some happy, some sad, some saucy, and some tangy. It is time to hold on to precious memories and make peace with sad ones. We just bid adieu to an eventful saga of 365 days and look forward to yet another mysterious quest.
2017 was a roller coaster. At the onset, the ghost of demonetisation was followed by reforms such as the goods and services tax (GST). As the year neared a close, the Diwali smog hit the North and the region gasped for fresh air. Post-Diwali, the Padmavati film controversy hit the headlines and was followed by the Virushka wedding that took social media by storm. Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh went with Naren- dra Modi, showing that the Prime Minister retains his charisma.
For me, as the year ends, I just want to be silly, to forget all my worries, talk to the gleaming moon, jump the twinkling stars and make the translucent clouds my veil, rejoice and rejuvenate, just be myself to usher in new year with family and friends. There is a squeaky goodness of being yourself that pervades the air as we connect with family and friends and feel serene and secure. These are the people we trust, with whom we needn’t look over our shoulder, no longer required to play societal roles we can emerge with impunity.
Happiness doesn’t need calibration, it is always palatable when you are willing to celebrate little joys of everyday living. As I recall and savour and share the prized moments, it brings a smile on my face. Sitting with the family, I feel it’s a time to celebrate our blissful togetherness. It slowly dawns on me that I’ve had many eureka moments such as the pyjama parties with cousins, soaking up the college ground’s winter sun, a flash of the golden amaltas on trees as I drive past, my student’s innocent and infectious laughter, windowshopping with friends when we didn’t have sufficient money, doing all nighters with my sister Anu, just talking, laughing and sleeping only as we wanted to pretend we were not crazy.
We live many moments in a day and make many resolutions on New Year’s Eve yet most of us fail in our efforts at self-improvement because our resolutions are lofty. This cycle of the false hope syndrome is characterised by unrealistic expectations that damage our self worth. So refrain from making over-ambitious resolutions, move ahead in life, stay with happy moments, experience them, share and celebrate them. As Mother Teresa said, “Be happy in the moment, that is enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.”
I guess the recipe for the perfect moment of happiness catches you unawares when you least expect it from the people who know you in and out and are ready to ruin it with the most imperfectly timed sniggers.
As the world moves to 2018 gingerly, stay fit and fine, steer the inside rover in you towards humorous, hilarious and happy moments. Years may come and go but these moments will always sprinkle sparkle and sheen whenever you feel low.
Bid adieu to 2017 with fond memories. Let us welcome 2018 singing with William Arthur Ward, “This bright new year is given me to live each day with zest, to daily grow and try to be my highest and my best!”
AS WE ENTER 2018, STAY FIT AND FINE, STEER THE INSIDE ROVER IN YOU TOWARDS HAPPY MOMENTS. YEARS MAY COME AND GO BUT THESE MOMENTS WILL ALWAYS SPRINKLE SPARKLE WHENEVER YOU FEEL LOW