“Happiness is free” This has been one of my favorite phrases over time. Happiness comes from within. The only way to have a good life is always to be happy. And there is no way you can be happier if not for yourself. Others can't make you happy as much as you can.

This is why you see a young child riding a bicycle with a full smile on his face and happiness gushing out from within. And you can even see a fully grown man in a big and expensive ride so sad and not happy, apart from the zero worries we have as a child. Most of the time happiness comes from contentment.

A child who has their parents buy them expensive bags to school and one whose parents bought them an ordinary bag. They both have to go to school. But if they are not content with what their parents have for them, then there is no way they will be happy.

As we age we get to realize more about life, we get to see the true definition of life itself. At times life would show us joy and all of a sudden change it to sorrow. But does that have to determine our level of happiness??

No one prays to have an encounter with sadness and sorrow. But still, it became something inevitable in life. Death, illness, sickness, poverty, all of these are agents of sadness and sorrow and they are one of the reasons for life.

There was a time when I was in the university with my bro. Things were so tight then because it wasn’t easy for Dad to have both of us in the institution at the same time. My brother in his final year is spending so much on his projects and I am also in my first year having a lot of payment to make. It wasn’t easy.

A few months later things got settled a little. There was a time when the amount we got for allowance couldn’t even cater to us to school for transportation not to talk of feeding. So at times, he skips classes so I can go to school.

The funniest part now and so sorrowful then was that anytime my brother received the little amount that was sent to us. He would ask me to go and buy some good food for us to eat that night. At times I would buy noodles or I buy spaghetti with full spices and seasoning, or I cook jollof rice. We are going to eat to be satisfied that night.

Then when I ask my brother about the days to come before we get another allowance he would tell me that at least let's enjoy this very moment while it lasts.

That's pure happiness. Deriving pleasure and satisfaction in whatever you do. Despite the situation you find yourself in, you realize that you need to put happiness over everything.

These are hard times, sometimes when I look at the future I will just nod my head and smile. The future looks so blurry, but the past and present are clearer. Instead of worrying about the future that is yet to come. Why don't I just reflect on the past and focus on the present? Every time I do this I realize happiness from within. And that would become a reason for me to keep going despite the hardship and sorrow I might be facing.

Life is too short. Live the moment. Be grateful and make your happiness a priority.

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This is my response to the HIVE LEARNERS weekly prompt in hive learners community for the Week 120 Edition 1 and the topic to be discussed is BATTLE FOR HAPPINESS

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