My Idea of a Happy Life
Every body wants to be happy. Happiness is the goal of our life. Scientists have worked hard to make us happy. They have tried their best to make mankind happy. Even then we find people unhappy. None is perfectly happy.
Our life is a story of pain as well as joy. It is a mingled yarn, good and ill together. Out of the shadows of pain, goodness often comes out. Even then a happy life means a life of freedom from the petty cares and worry of getting the daily bread. To be happy I should have enough to support myself, without being hampered by poverty or authority or influence. I do not mean that I should have untold wealth. This will cause trouble. But I should have just enough of the good things of life to keep my sense of independence.
Alongwith this should go clear conscience which is possible by virtuous living. One cannot have peace of mind unless one leads a holy life. ‘Virtues alone is happiness below’, said Pope long ago quite correctly.
Then again, to be really happy one should be a little far from the selfish affairs of the world. Ft does not mean that one should leave the world altogether. What I want is that I should be free from the thousand attractions of daily life so that I may taste all the enjoyments of body and mind. I do not want to be a selfish bundle of wants. In my seclusion, I would work for the achievement of my ideal that I should be human. I want to live happily and care free.
As far as I am concerned, I think plain living and high thinking is the best rule of life. We should do our duties honestly, sincerely and fearlessly. If we are not sincere in our work, if we are not honest, we will never be happy. Prayer and riches will not help us. A man of upright character is generally happy, whether he is rich or poor.
