When you think of happiness, what comes to mind? A holiday? A
larger house? A better car?
I think we spend most of our time, energy and money, not on
trying to be happy, but on trying to be comfortable. We save for a new PC, or a
bigger TV; we want efficient heating, and a nice car to take us places, dry
with the minimum effort.
In a new year, we tend to think of things we hope will make
us happy in the coming months. The problem is many of the things we think of
won’t necessarily make us happy, they’ll just make us more comfortable. And there
will always be someone more comfortable than us, no matter how big our TV is,
so we’ll keep on chasing ‘happiness’, never quite reaching it.
Instead, we should probably spend more time making memories,
building friendships, and enjoying experiences. Those are the things that make
me happy, for sure. Just today I was reminiscing about the times I had in a
previous existence (at least that’s how it feels), when I had friends and
experiences that will stay with me forever. I miss them, and know that, when I
reach old age, I will look back and be glad I had them.
Lying on my death bed, I doubt I’ll be wishing I’d had a
better sofa. But I’m sure I’ll wish I had more time with those I love, and lived
more stories with them.
My advice at the start of 2015 is to stop seeking comfort and
go after real happiness instead. Do things that will last, make memories, write
stories in time, with every day a new chapter.
This time next year, it will be far better to look back on
than any Blu-ray movie.
