“What’s the secret to your happiness?” the elderly lady asked. Her lips curved into a smile, and I thought for a second that she was joking, but the look in her eyes told me otherwise. She looked at me as though I really did have a magical spell to happiness. I was traveling from my country to the United States, and the lady happened to sit next to me on the plane. We got talking, and I told her that I am from Bhutan. Bhutan is known for being one of the happiest countries in the world despite our humble lifestyles. She had heard all about Bhutan and Buddhism, and she wanted to learn more about that from me.
I had heard that question before but never really found the right answer to it. Sure, Bhutan had free education and health care, but that didn’t mean that some people wouldn’t take it for granted. Not everyone in Bhutan is happy all the time, and not every Buddhist has a peaceful mind.
Moreover, it was ironic that she was asking me, out of all people, how to be happy. I was anything but happy at that point in my life. I’ve never been an optimistic person and could never be truly content with my life knowing that there’s so much injustice in the world. I had also lost someone very close to me around that time, and I wasn’t anywhere near being happy.
I smiled back awkwardly at her when what I really wanted to do was shout, “I DON’T KNOW, LADY!” I caught a glimpse of the sky from the window behind her. It reminded me fondly of my first plane ride. I had been so excited and nervous at the same time. I was going to literally fly! If only life was as easy as it was when I was 10. Well, why can’t it be? said a voice from the back of my mind. And that was the moment I had an epiphany.
I thought of life back at home, my friends and family. I've had such precious moments with them. Even though some people might not be there for me any longer, I was thankful for the time that I was given with them. I looked forward to what the future had in store for me. Good or bad, the unpredictability of it was exhilarating. I wasn't the happiest person, but I had had some of the best moments of my life, and the rest were yet to come.
Happiness is only a state of mind, just like sadness or loneliness. It is completely up to us and our minds to perceive things the way we want them to be. Happiness isn’t about putting a smile on your face or being optimistic all the time. It's about finding and knowing yourself and accepting who you are and where you stand.
"Happiness is simple," I replied, as if I hadn't taken 10 minutes to figure out the answer. "It's about being content with who you are and what you have. It's appreciating the little things in life. Happiness is like a sport -- the more you practice, the better you get at it."
The woman beamed back at me as though she had just been enlightened. "I am not much of a happiness expert, but when you come from a country which puts its citizens' happiness first, you're bound to know something," I said with a wink.
Or maybe everything had begun to make sense to me 30,000 feet high in the air while sitting next to a strange lady. Potayto, potato.