What does happiness means?

According to Wikipedia, Happiness is emotion in which one experiences feelings ranging from contentment and satisfaction to bliss and intense joy. This definition is, however, a synonymous one. A more clarified one is almost impossible to conceive due to the capacity by which a human can allocate the correct words into an appropriate and meritable sentence that would describe happiness.

Haha... such a 'cheem' definition for a simple emotion. Indeed, happiness means different things to different people.

Today, I had dinner with my girlfriends from secondary school. We have all left school for over 10 years already and we are all at different stages of life. One of them is awaiting the birth of her baby girl, another two are in relationships and me, the happy single. Looking at how far we have come, I feel happy for my friends that they are contented with where Life has led them to.

On the way home, I can't help musing about what happiness could mean to different people. For some, it can be being happily settled in their roles as mothers, wives and daughters. They may define their identity in their relationship with others (people around them).

For some, the fear of loneliness may drive them to find happiness in being in a relationship, even if it seems so clear to others that there is clearly no future in the relationship.

Seriously, I think the key to happiness in really contentment. As long as we are contented in what we have, it's happiness.

However, there are many unhappy people around because they are all chasing elusive dreams like waiting to find Mr 'Right' (which seems more like Mr 'Perfect'), chasing their millions, chasing after promotions etc.

After observing many married and attached friends (happily so or otherwise!), I've learnt that there is really no Mr 'Right'. There is only Mr 'Right' for you. Afterall, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. However, if we waste too much time looking out for Mr 'Perfect', we may actually miss Mr 'Right For Us'. While it's true that tall, dark, handsome, rich and spiffy dresser are very attractive qualities, they are also not qualities that build foundations for marriage. There are more important qualities to build a marriage like being generous, giving, caring, gentle etc.

Chasing millions and promotions are also not a way to be happy. I've been through the stage of chasing for promotions and higher salaries only to find myself extremely fatigued by that experience. Now, I just want to do my best at my work cos I want to put the pupils' interest first. If promotions, increments and bonus come, then praise God for more money.

In fact, I don't even wish to to have a responsibility at work if I can help it. I think I've been pushing myself too hard the last 5 years and now, I just wanna take a back seat a little. To me, happiness now is finding time to do the things I like such as planning quality lessons I can be proud of, completing my marking on time, going to the gym, giving tuitions (allows me to teach subjects I otherwise have no chance to do so in school), watching my favourite Korean dramas, go dancing when I feel like it, watch movie marathons when the mood strikes, go on holidays when I can afford to... most important of all, being paid a salary that matches the kind of work that I do.

Realistically speaking, while we cannot worship money, I'd rather be miserable and rich than miserable and poor. After all, with money, there is a certain level of happiness we can buy. Not worrying about where your next meal comes from is a very great happiness already!

Happiness can really be very simple. The key: Contentment.