Be Happy

Today I would like to reveal the secret to life; be happy. That is all there is to it. If you want to live a worry free life, all you have to do is be happy. Now, I know that this sounds easier to do than it really is, but I know that it can be achieved.

Buddhism has had a very large impact on my life, and this is one of the lessons that I have learned from it. I am not going to run through every Buddhist sutra, word-for-word, but I would like to give you an idea of what he had to say. A Buddhist believes that everything is created by the mind. When I mean everything, I do not just mean sensations (like being cold, or hot, or hungry). I mean EVERYTHING from the things you feel, right down to the computer that you are looking at. Anything can be created or destroyed with the mind. If you assume this is true, then it really should not be too hard to make yourself happy. I know that happiness does not just come about for most people just like that, but it is a choice; a choice that requires effort at times. We do not need to view happiness as something that needs to be acquired, instead, we should listen to the great words of Burton Hills, "Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life."

Here you sit, thinking, "Yes, Dave, that does sound easy. From now on I will be happy!" Before you run around for the rest of the day with a fake smile painted on your face you have to realize that this choice will be one of the hardest choices of your life. It is easy to smile when things are going really well. If you have great job that you enjoy, are in a great relationship with someone that you love, and all of the bills are paid, there is no reason not to smile. But, what if you are in a go nowhere job, you are single (or in a relationship with constant fighting), and you are drowning in a sea of endless debt? Which way will your lips be curved then? It is when we are being pushed to our limit, when the weight of the world feels on your shoulders that your true resolve will be tested. This is when you truly need to be happy with the little things in life. As Thich Nhat Hanh put it, "Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." If you can look around in a bad situation and just laugh, then you will see more and more happiness in your everyday life. This is a very handy tool to carry in your pack while wandering . . .