Heal the World #MondayMusing

Being happy was effortless when we were kids, however, now all of us have to put effort and literally work hard to be or feel happy. There are now happiness coaches who teach us how to be happy, it is no more a natural and organic thing. So many of us visit psychotherapists or counselors. We do yoga, we do pranayam, we do kickboxing and so many other things just to feel happy. It makes me wonder what changed in this world that all of us are becoming so sad.

Whenever I call a friend or cousin the first thing I hear is ‘oh am so stressed’ or else some unhappy story. Is ‘being unhappy’ gradually becoming the new ‘trend’? People are desperately searching for happiness. Every single one of us. People are no longer happy with their jobs, their homes, their partners, their parents, their kids, their neighbors, the news, the world, Donald Trump, Narendra Modi, we are just unhappy with everything. There are dedicated websites and blogs trying to teach us how to be happy.

When I was a child everything made me happy, a butterfly, a rainbow, a letter from my NRI masi, a phone call from my best friend, a visit to my cousin’s house, a glimpse of my crush riding his bicycle, Durga Puja, Holi, Diwali and ‘happy new year’, everything made me so happy but today none of the above incite any joy in me. I am sure ‘unhappiness’ is becoming contagious, unhappiness has turned into a global epidemic. The only ones benefitting from this are the manufacturers of anti-depressants and drug peddlers.

Why do the same things that made me happy once doesn’t excite me anymore? When was the last time when I genuinely felt happy? When was the last time that I laughed so hard that my stomach ached? when was the last time a butterfly made me feel blessed? Well, the truth is I haven’t seen a butterfly in the longest time.

I am becoming unhappy because I am now living in a concrete jungle far away from nature. Growing up in Sikkim, I was blessed to be surrounded by nature that made me feel so calm and happy. I am becoming unhappy because I have too many expectations. I am becoming unhappy because I compare my life with others. I am becoming unhappy because each day all of us becoming lonelier. While growing up my neighbors were almost like my family. But, now I hardly know who lives next door. All of us are becoming connected on social media but in real life, we are becoming lonely. It is not unique to me but all of us are going through the same.

In the end, I would like to summarise that we are not leaving a happy world for our kids. Therefore, it is time we take control of this world and make it a better place. We need to have more love, compassion and empathy in our hearts to make this world a better place. Let me sign off with the lyrics of MJ’s ‘heal the world’ song.

There’s a place in your heart

And I know that it is love

And this place could be much

Brighter than tomorrow

And if you really try

You’ll find there’s no need to cry

In this place you’ll feel

There’s no hurt or sorrow
There are ways to get there

If you care enough for the living

Make a little space

Make a better place
Heal the world

Make it a better place

For you and for me

And the entire human race

There are people dying

If you care enough for the living

Make it a better place

For you and for me
If you want to know why

There’s love that cannot lie

Love is strong

It only cares of joyful giving

If we try we shall see

In this bliss we cannot feel

Fear of dread

We stop existing and start living
The it feels that always

Love’s enough for us growing

So make…