I've never been (Un)happier

by Shaheen Bhatt

‘Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night’ —Sarah Williams, The Old Astronomer

Your pain, like your fingerprints, is unique to you.

In other words, you can buy happiness off the rack—but sadness is tailor-made just for you.

It was my father who taught me a long time ago that no one can disrespect you or shame you without your permission.

‘Only stupid people can learn things, beta. Smart people think they already know everything.’

In this age of instant gratification we want everything in our lives to come without an expiry date. We want everything to be permanent—relationships, love, beauty, youth, happiness. But the truth is permanence is an illusion, and like everything else in life happiness also comes and goes. Trying to be happy forever is like trying to stop water from slipping through your fingers. It’s not possible, and the only way forward is to realize and accept it.

The only permanent fixture in life is change. Change. Change. Change.

Not sure I entirely agree with this but it is the bittersweet reality. The other permanent fixure in life is love - from yourself, from your friends and family, from strangers.