This story is about a beautiful, expensively dressed lady who complained to her psychiatrist that she felt that her whole life was empty, it had no meaning.

So, the lady visited a counselor to seek happiness.

The counselor called over the old lady who cleaned the office floors. The counselor 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 Mary put down her broom and sat on a chair and told her story:

“Well, my husband died of malaria and three 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 purred and 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, maybe doing something for people could make me happy.

“So the next day I baked some biscuits and took them to a neighbor 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 and eats better than I do. I’ve found happiness, by giving it to others.”

When she heard that, the rich lady cried. She had everything that money could buy, but she had lost the things which money cannot buy.

“If you have health, you probably will be happy and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need.”

Teaching:

Those who need our little smile, our little hug, our little word of kindness and affection, our little monetary help…if we give, we will find happiness. Yes, Yes, Yes, there is Happiness in giving! No wonder Karna of Mahabharata found maximum happiness in giving; this was when he himself was a beneficiary of Duryodhana’s kindness. Karna gave everything he had so selflessly that Bhagwaan got “alms” from him just before his death! 

“The beauty of life does not depend on how happy you are; but on how happy others can be because of you…”

Being Happy doesn’t mean everything is perfect. 

It means that we have decided to look beyond the imperfections.  

……………………………………….

Happiness is not a destination, it’s a journey.

Happiness is not tomorrow, it is now.

Happiness is not a dependency, for dependency is a cause of bondage and any bondage is a cause of misery. 

Happiness is independence. Happiness is freedom.

Happiness is what we really are, not what we have!

We are ever free; we are of the nature of absolute, infinite and eternal bliss!!  

May the Lord give you…

For every storm, a rainbow, for every tear, a smile,

For every despair, a hope and a blessing in each trial

For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share,

For every sigh, a sweet song and an answer for each prayer