Happiness. What comes into your mind when I say that word?
Money? Fame? Beautiful wife? Rich husband? Great carrer?
Hermes bag? Lamborghini?
Well, I’m pretty sure you have your own perspective of happiness. As for
mine, I got the perspective after having long journey to Bogor. It took five
hours by bus. During the trip, I observed people; staring secretly at their
expression, reading their face, interpreting their look. The observation and
experience told me that happiness is actually there, wherever you belong no
matter how wealthy or poor you are. It exists only soon after you find it, you
recognize it and you seize it.
I’m not Deepak Chopra, not even his dust. I’m just sharing
how happiness turns up in every twist of life episode. Here’s what I got during
my journey.
1. Rest Area
From the bus window, I saw a flock of Chinese ladies sitting
back and relax in Starbuck Coffee. They chatted enthusiastically while
sometimes sipping a cup of coffee. Even though I had no idea what topic they’re
dwelling on, I was sure it was about something funny or amusing. They burst
into laughing every minute. I saw happiness. :)
On another corner of rest area, I saw a group of drivers
from different shuttle cars took a break, stretched their stiff legs. Some of
them fanned themselves with a bundle of newspaper to cool down. Their other
hand held a plastic cup of coffee. Everyone who saw would notice where the cup
came from. Yes. The cup was second-hand plastic cup of mineral water. (I didn’t
say Aqua, did I?). They often blew some air from their mouth to cool off the
coffee. Every time they sipped it, and stopped afterwards, they looked like
Bondan Winarno who’re about to say “Mak Nyuus”. They did enjoy it. I thought happiness was just simple. :)
2. Outside the bus, a green green grass , along the toll road
I threw my gaze into a vast field across the toll road. An
old herdsman was there, sitting on the green grass under the leafy trees. His
back was rested on the tree while his eyes kept watching a herds of cow far
away from him . He left his worn out shirt unbuttoned to let the air come in. He
felt the breeze touching every drop of his sweat running through all over his
body. He looked so peaceful. Happiness portrays itself as fresh soothing breeze. :)
While in a Lexus car, beside our bus, sat a young man with beer
belly. Next to him was a good looking fella. His right hand operated a gadget,
while the other one reached a soda beer placed in a cool box. They owned the
heavenly life.
3. Karanggan, Citeureup Bogor (The End of Journey)
I bumped into an old man selling a whole bunch of rambutans.
He got soaked due to the continuous rain but he kept standing in front of Indomaret
to get all his rambutans sold out. He didn’t took a shelter across the road
since there was also a vendor selling various fruit. Seeing how tough he was I
bought a bunch of it and he smiled. :)
Across the road, there was a young man guarding the fruit vendor.
He put headset on both ears, waited for the buyer, enjoyed the rhythm of melody;
forget the boredom stitching along the night. They slightly moved his head back
and forth. He tried killing the tediousness :)
To conclude, wherever you’re, you’ll always find your kind
of happiness. You’ll have your own version
of happiness. A flock of Chinese ladies, a handful of drivers, an old herdsman,
a beer belly guy in Lexus, a rambutan seller and a vendor guardian; they choose
to sketch their own happiness. Because when you’re grateful, you’ll be happy. You
feel like you’re the richest guy on earth. When you’re creating your own
happiness, you’ll always find a mirror and see yourself as a lucky creature.
Find your happiness. It’s already within you. :)