HAPPINESS

While I was wondering which topic I had to pick for this month’s video, my attention was drawn to my mother who has Alzheimer’s. Her memory is pretty much gone, specifically her short-term memory. She forgets basically everything. The worst thing is that she also can’t recall my father died of cancer. Yesterday, she asked me every 5 minutes where he was, leading to countless moments I had to tell her about his sad demise, which was breaking her heart as if she heard it for the first time. Nevertheless, she is very brave and is showing that vibe of joy I have experienced ever since I was a little child.

My parents were very happy, although they both had been through a lot as most people of their generation.  Among other things, they both lost their parents at a pretty young age, suffered as a child due to World War II and when they got married my father ended up in hospital for more than a year due to TBC. They also were very poor and struggled to hold their lives together, but felt rich with their children and the family life they led. They always taught me that you can make your own luck despite all the sadness you may suffer in life since from their point of view you don’t need that much to be happy.

As a child I doubted this statement; looking around me I thought that my classmates were far better off than me because they were “rich” and enjoyed all the things this material world has to offer.  With other words: I thought there was a link with the amount of cash you had and the level of happiness you experienced.

Through the years I learned my own lessons and realized that my parents always had been right; it’s the little things than can make you happy and there is indeed not so much needed to take a different view on life.

 “Always remember that tomorrow is a new day and the sun will shine again in your heart,” my Dad usually comforted me, when I faced another challenge in life. “Count your blessings and be happy with it.”

While doing my research I met a lot of psychics who have been through very severe challenges that you can barely imagine. Also looking at the news or reading about people’s experiences in magazines, I constantly watch the grief of many people, but also their take on life and the courage they find in themselves to face the new day with open eyes, being happy with what they still have in life.

So, when I was looking at my Mom yesterday, sitting in front of the television, clapping her hands, while singing along with an opera song, I suddenly knew what this video would be about. I hope you will enjoy it and also will find happiness in what really matters to you in this challenging society.