Love, Life and the Pursuit of Happiness

I was talking to someone the other day about happiness; it’s something we all search for, but it can be ethereal and hard to find. We may think too much, work too much, or be so removed from those around us that we find it difficult to be happy. During our lives, it comes and goes, playing hide and seek with our emotions. But happiness is not hard to find.

Happiness can be found in love. To be happy, you need to love deeply, you need to love life, be passionate—and not afraid. You need to feel your emotions, express them, and live with the consequences. You will be surprised at the results. Life and love can be painful, but life without love can be hell. Happiness is a major part of life and an integral part of love; it can be found in everything around us if we take the time to see and feel.

Moments of happiness can be fleeting and unexpected. Happiness is the wide eyes of your child as they recognise you coming through the door, their mouth opening into a huge smile. Surprising your lover with a slow deliberate kiss, and feeling the heat of their breath. A sunset with the sun dropping low on the horizon, sending shafts of warm fall colours shimmering across the surface of the ocean. Letting yourself go in the frenzy of a dance step as the music takes you over. Pulling your partner closer, tightening your grip on the curve of their back and moving as one to a salsa beat. Being home after a long trip or leaving on an adventure.

Happiness, love and life are connected; they are intertwined and are a large part of our psyche. Happiness and love can empower us and defeat us if not found. We can search for happiness in the wrong places or wait for the big event and miss the happiness that’s right in front of us. The simple moments can be the most enduring. Love and happiness come in many shapes and sizes.

I love to see a team member successfully reach a goal, be better than they thought they could be, or see them enjoy the experience of learning and teaching another. I love the unexpected: a pod of dolphins playing by the beach, a monarch butterfly hovering over the car while stuck in rush hour traffic, the laughter after a great joke (I tell great jokes), the sharing of a beautiful design, creating a piece of art, writing or playing good music and getting lost in the rhythm of the notes. Life is so much simpler than we make it, love is easier to find and happiness is right around the corner. Open your eyes and your heart, and you will find it.

Tell us what makes you happy, what you love in life, and what makes your life better. Help create a smile on someone else’s face and give them a moment of happiness. Why not share your story in the comment box below?