A beautiful woman in an expensive dress came to see me saying that she was depressed and her life was meaningless.
I called the old lady who cleaned the office floors and then said to the rich lady, “I’m going to ask Mary here to tell you how she found happiness. All I want you to do is listen to her.”
So the old lady put down her broom, sat on a chair and told her story.
“My husband died of cancer. 3 months later my only son was killed by a car. I had nobody. I had nothing left. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat, I never smiled at anyone. I even thought of taking my own life.
Then one evening, a little kitten followed me home from work. Somehow I felt sorry for that kitten. It was cold outside, so I decided to let the kitten in. I got it some milk, and the kitten licked the plate clean.
Then it rubbed against my leg and, for the first time in months, I smiled.
Then I stopped to think: if helping a little kitten could make me smile, may be doing something for people could make me happy.
So the next day I baked some biscuits and took them to a neighbour who was sick in bed.
Every day I tried to do something nice for someone. It made me so happy to see them happy.
Today I don’t know of anybody, who sleeps better than I do. I have found happiness by giving it to others.”
The rich lady cried when she heard that. She had everything money could buy, but she had lost the things money cannot buy.
The beauty of life is there because you put it there, it does not depend on how happy you are, but on how happy others can be because of you.
Happiness is not a destination. It’s a journey. Happiness is not tomorrow, its now. Happiness is not a dependency, its a decision. Happiness is who you are, not what you have.
Title of the painting – “Joy and Inspiration, Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek’s, Lt Uhura at 84”
Artist – Robin Damore circa 2020
Credits goes to the respective Owners