Happiness Is What You Make It

Just when I was about to fall asleep one tired night few days ago, my ate called. She had always said she opted to call me instead of my other siblings because we always have both happy and melodramatic moments for hours. She always find it hard to maintain conversations with my other sisters because they always ask something from her. She's working in Singapore. She has a high salary. She burdens herself on the responsibilities she herself decided to take many years ago. I am sad for her. So, the least that I can do is to cheer her up, at times tells her hard facts and painful truths of the decisions and beliefs she has taken into her young life. Once in a sad turn of our conversation, she said she made her Top Ten Things Before You Die. I said, that's too shallow! It's like making a countdown to death. It seems that those are the only things that can make you fulfilled, and with open arms, you look up to the heavens and say, "Unto your arms, I commend I spirit". Wahehe. Daisy just told me, "Why? Bakit, meron ka ba nun? I bet wala ka pang listahan? What are your plans in life?". I reflected. Hmmm. And I found my answer. I had none. Wahehehe. I had wishes, prayers every now and then. When I look at my journal I have maintained in the two decades and four years of my life, I find myself smiling. God has blessed me with all the prayers I had in my life. Material and nonmaterial. I am happy. I am contented. Life is wonderful. The years of my young life had been hard, harsh, painful, and I believed that the things God made me experience in those years are the very reasons why I am smiling from ear to ear now. I have lost all my miseries and sadness in those years. I was made to realize what really matters in life. Not a trip to Europe Daisy wanted. Not a condo or a house and lot (though it was fun to see the fruits of my labor in my boarding house, after having Chaychay around who is demanding all these things.. wahehehe.) I find joy in people everyday. Happiness should be created. It takes effort. It takes one cheerful smile as you go out of the house. It takes a boisterous (walang poise) laughter you make due to the hilarious face your sister makes for you for no reason at all, and the same face you give out for her to laugh at just for the ugliness of it all. It does not require a boyfriend to be created. It is in the simple things you see and feel everyday. The songs you sing out loud off tone. The tunes that make your booty pop up and make you jump. I am sad for my siblings for having dreams of material things. Maybe I am not just the person to draw out the Top Ten list. I live, I breathe, I love, I am happy, every single day just coz. Happiness for the sake of happiness. I just have to sometimes whisper wishes, and prayers. God provides. I am certain of that.