While growing up we have been asked this question quite a many times, "What do you want  to be?", "What is your goal?", "Where do you see yourself 5-10 years down the line?".


The answer to it wasn't dependent upon what we dreamt to be, but what was told that should be our dream and to some extent the generation we were born in played a vital role in it. During 80's the answer was "A successful Civil Engineer to turn people's dream into reality", 90's changed it to "I wanna be a doctor to cure all illness", in my generation it was, "A Software Engineer to create and destroy bugs", these days it is "Anything which gives me quick money".

What if the same question is asked after you have been successful in your chosen profession, what should be the answer? As a kid I was told that a person progresses in life based upon goals he/she sets for him/herself. 
So when I was in school, my goal was to clear my exams, once exams were over, I had a new "same" goal but different standard attached until I reached college. During college years again my goal was to get through Engineering as soon as possible and get placed in a good company. I got placed in a reputed IT firm quite before my engineering was over, so that marks another goal complete. Now in IT industry, we do set our goals each year, despite that we switch jobs in search of a better company, better position, better money, Yes thats the unsaid goal during our career. So isn't this goal actually a vicious circle ? 

Imagine yourself in that "better company, better position, better money" situation, now there is no way further, you have reached the pinnacle of your career, what should be your goal now ?

If our life progresses based upon goal then there comes a time when we have no more goals to achieve, what is the driving factor for life now ? That just proves that "goals" isn't what should be the elixir of life. Goals are the targets which we want to achieve in life, not destination where one would like to stop and rest. Our life progresses not based upon goals but based upon targets we achieved, what makes a life worth living is that the journey to those goals is full of happiness. That we seek the roses along the way of life but aware of thorns !
In our day to day worries and competitions, we tend to forget small things in life, we forget to be happy. There is no ultimate destination which we want to achieve in life, it's "Ultimate Happiness and Eternal Bliss" which is the final goal of life. Citing a small line from Taare Zameen Par: "Dil khush jahan, teri toh manzil vahan !!"

 This post is just a reminder to be Happy coz that's how one will find his destination.

…a state of mind? or a real situation where you are happy? Dont people say that you are the creator of your own mood and you can be happy or sad as your grey cells decide? why, then, do you need someone else to make you happy? I mean it could be anyone a child, a partner, a colleague, a boss or your parents, your friends, different people in your life make you happy or sad! Right? But how is that possible, if you had the power to remain happy and sad at your own will, why would someone else's action evoke a reaction from you? The reason being since we are human beings we form emotional bonds with the people we are associated with – you either like a person, dislike a person, hate a person or don't get along with someone. But no matter what anyone says it is very difficult (almost impossible) to ignore someone.
Your happiness is your reaction to someone's action. WHat is in your hands is to make someone else happy… think about it have you consciously tried to make someone happy?

no its not raindrops and whiskers and the works.. my favorite things are to hear a toddler gurgle, to give food and clothes to the needy to chat with young adults who have so many views on so many things in life! In my opinion there is nothing else that makes me happier than to watch my 2 yr old gurgle with laughter and joy at silly things, the way she talks and expresses her joy on seeing me return from work.

The other bit I described is an activity I normally undertake when it is either my parent's marriage anniversary, birth anniversary or death anniversary. I visit a near by temple and distribute food, and some alms to the poor. Without any exaggeration I say that the expressions those people have when they get the food are priceless. It satisfies me and gives me a different kind of happiness.

Moreover try talking to a teenager its not easy if you happen to be their parent but still try -they have a lot to share, loads of opinions though not all relevant yet opinions they do have. ANd while some are radically unsettling, others plain weird but the sparkle in their eyes is something to watch out for …

WHats your take on things that make you happy? Any truly different sources?

I open this category as I think the site is now ready to welcome visitors. Let's talk about Happiness. I want to hear what you have to say.