I have been finding myself more and more drawn to the subject of happiness over the past couple of years. Isn’t that what everyone wants – to achieve this coveted and often abstract state of being? Maybe, maybe not. Aristotle said, “Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.” It is possible that some people are too caught up in the details and stresses of day to day life, that they never take a second to step back and think a little deeper; to take the time to seek out a greater meaning. But it seems too important to me to pass up. Yet regretfully, I find it hard to maintain focus on happiness, mindfulness, and leading a meaningful life when those day to day stresses creep in.

I recently watched a video about a seventeen year old boy who was dying of terminal cancer. While happiness and terminal cancer appear vastly unrelated, the underlying theme and message of the video was about happiness and living life. The boy had the most mature sense of self, and such a positive spirit despite his circumstances. He pointed out that many people assume they are invincible. It is not until faced with a terminal diagnosis or traumatic event that most people are able to truly live life. “You don’t have to find out you’re dying to start living… No matter when you’re gonna go, live life to the fullest every day.” This theme was also touched upon in a book by Gretchen Rubin titled, The Happiness Project. “I was in danger of wasting my life…I had everything I could possibly want—yet I was failing to appreciate it…One of my goals for the happiness project was to prepare for adversity—to develop the self-discipline and the mental habits to deal with a bad thing when it happened.” We don’t want life to pass us by without LIVING it. And knowing that there will be difficult moments, circumstances, and situations in life, it is important to be prepared, and to enjoy the often seemingly unremarkable, yet truly spectacular gift of the day to day.

Think about it. All of those things that “go right” everyday. That normalcy that we so often take for granted. Sometimes when we are involved in a stressful situation that is demanding all of our time and attention, we fail to notice the simple gifts, moments of bliss, and natural beauty surrounding us. And even more so, when we are faced with that terminal diagnosis or traumatic event, we find ourselves naturally yearning for those simple, easy, “normal” times. So why not make a better effort to practice mindfulness, to slow down, and to give thanks for good times and normalcy. I know that happiness means something different to each individual. But I think one theme that we can all get behind, is that it is so important to be present and to truly live life while we are given the chance.

What does happiness mean to you? What evokes joy, gratitude, and peace in you?