In Search Of Happiness

I was trying to find happiness today. I searched for it all over the place, but couldn’t find it. I tried finding it within my house. “Here Happiness, Here Happiness!!!”, i called out. But Happiness didn’t respond. My familly was sitting there, all of them chatting merrily away, whilst i was searching. I just ignored them. I was too busy trying to find happiness.

”I know it’s out here somewheres”, i thought. So i went out of my house and tried looking for it there. I searched in the gardens, i searched on the pathways, the lone woods (because i had heard some people say they find happiness in there), i searched the hotels and the restaurants. But didn’t find any happiness there. A little boy did come up to me though. He said that he was hungry and wanted something to eat. In my haste to find happiness, i ignored him and ran off. I had to find happiness, what does a little boy know about helping me find my happiness.

So i thought and i thought. Where would happiness be found? I was thinking so much that i missed my prayers. oh!! well....wouldn’t have found happiness there either, i thought.

EUREKA!! I suddenly shouted. People find happiness with work. So i got to a workplace. I was shivering with excitement, i was about to find happiness. The day wore on, and only made me feel bored, sad and frustrated. Where was Happiness? I’m supposed to find happiness in here, i thought. Finally tired and despondent, i just left.

It was evening by then, and my walk was slow and tired, like that of an old man. I hadn’t found happiness at all. I was passing by this empty stretch of land, when i heard a voice call out. “Hey! You”. I turned. This was it...this was happiness. I strained my eyes in the growing darkness and called out, “Happiness is that you”. A shadow appeared and then grew into a man. Nopes! no happiness here, sir. My name’s Williams. Can you spare a dime?, the hobo said.

I was ready to cry. I sank to the ground with despondancy. I was no closer than before to finding Happiness. The hobo wondering at my behavior, sat down with me. "Now ’ere Sir, sumthing the matter?", he said. "I’m trying to find Happiness", i shouted. "I have searched all over, and i can’t find happiness at all". He was quiet for a second and then said, "Sir, pardon me fer asking, but where did you search for Happiness". I narrated the entire day to him. How i had searched for happiness in my home, at work, in the woods, other places and didn’t find it.

He looked at me strangely for a second and then said, "You know what i think...i think you found happiness". "Huh!” i said. "No i didn’t. If i had, i wouldn’t be here, would i", I replied sarcastically. He looked at me, and i was surprised to find that he had clear blue eyes. He said, "You found happiness in your home when your family was together, you found happiness when you were alone, you found happiness when you were supposed to go and say your prayers, when you were to help that kid, or if you had loved the work. You just didn’t look at it as happiness. You looked at these things like you usually do…you took them for granted, and lowered their values. You were busy trying to find happiness in all the wrong ways. Maybe you were trying to find happiness in materialistic things, or in some grand scheme that you think will make you happy. Maybe you were trying to find an idealistic place of happiness. Happiness only comes from within, don’t you know that".

"Do you know what i think, you should do", he said suddenly and without waiting for an answer, he said, "Go home and tell your wife you love her, tell her you can’t live without her, ask your kids how they are and what they did today, call up your parents and tell em, how much you missed em, and afters say your prayers and go find yourself"

He shuffled up and just went away after that. I got up, still stunned at the talk but i did what the hobo told me, and you know what.....i didn’t find happiness still......happiness found me.