The Secret to being Happy...

If you want to be happy, be. ~Leo Tolstoy

This has been my favorite topic or something to ponder upon. I always wondered and was a bit curious to know what made people happy. I would listen as people would say if they found a perfect spouse or soul mate they would be happy, if they won a million dollars in lottery..it would make them happy..For some a dream vacation and for some diamonds or a big mansion or maybe even an expensive car.  

So all this while , in the pursuit of something else you are miserable and unhappy and forget to enjoy today. It happens to the best of us.  It happened to me as well. I wanted to get a good education to secure a good job. Wanted to get married to a person who understood me and respected me..got married. Bought a house , got a new job, had a kid, worked, had another kid and then just quit. It was getting too overwhelming. It seemed like life was going super fast. Was I enjoying..Sure..Thats what I thought. I could afford all the things I wanted too..and provide for the little things... But then after my second son was born something within me asked me to slow down..take it easy. I was'nt feeling happy. I thought I had it all. Because I was attaching so much power to things and stuff..but deep within I felt sad. Unknowingly we had complicated our lives and added so much stress. 

I took some time off to enjoy the little things in life. To enjoy my kids. Our house ..To have time for my DH. I was feeling happier as I realized the secret to being happy lies within ME..and within all of us..We cannot depend on other things or people to make us happy. Because that just leads to being more unhappy when you give the power to someone else..It is yours to begin with..Its your right and  you owe it to youself to make the choice and look within you and see what makes you happy.

For me spending quality time with my kids..they were 4 and a new born then meant a world to me. We would go for walks and go biking. Go on a nature's treasure hunt and come back home with all kinds of stuff. Go on picnics. Just chilling out and enjoying life. There was absolutely no pressure no deadlines to be met and life seemed so simple..Since then we have simplified our lives. All this credit goes to my DH as well as he enabled me to pursue things  which would make me happy. Its been three years now and I do feel rejuvenated and ready to  reenter the work force again.. as my little one has started preschool and my older son is in 2nd grade.  I had a great opportunity to create many precious memories and will continue to do so. But the main lesson I learnt was to take some time off no matter how important other things are.. for your family.

A Job gives you the money to buy a house but the love, support and the precious memories of your loved ones make it a HOME.

I dedicate this post to all the full time mothers who took some time off from their jobs and careers to be home with their kids. It takes a lot of courage to do so.. I know SO... But here I also have to account for many mothers who had to go back to work because of financial reasons. That requires tremendous courage as well.