Happiness is a warm word. Everyone hopes to attain the happiness they desire, yet each person's definition of happiness surely differs: For a person with a disability, perhaps having a healthy body is happiness; for a child who has dropped out of school, perhaps returning to the classroom is happiness; for a beauty-loving girl, perhaps a beautiful dress can make her happy; for a couple in love, happiness might require only a hug, or even just a glance.
Life is complicated, like a tangled ball of thread, with countless threads intertwined around the basics of eating, drinking, sleeping, and daily routines. Yet, in essence, life is also simple—merely opening your eyes to greet the sun, and closing them to embrace the moonlight. In this process, some people can skillfully navigate the chaos and find joy within it; others may find it dull and flavorless, harboring complaints. In truth, mountains are just mountains, water is just water; mountains do not change their shape because of external differences, nor does water alter its flow based on who observes it.
I often come across articles or writings wildly popular among the masses—such as "How women should be," "Women ought to live like this," or "Live just like so-and-so." For some reason, every time I see these, I feel an inexplicable sadness. It's not because I can't be this way or live like that person, nor is it because such advice is inherently wrong. Rather, it's because we need to ask: "Why is that person the way they are?" Will chasing someone else's footsteps ever make you feel light and free? I often see women with tiny waists and high heels, walking with affected, awkward strides. Their gait is truly hard to admire—not graceful or elegant, but rather making it seem as if their hips are being held hostage. Little do they know: the lightness and grace of one's steps do not come from shoes.
I increasingly find such "chicken soup for the soul"-style writings to have a fishy smell, almost unbearable to swallow, and thus I no longer pay them any attention. In fact, everyone can be happy: because everyone can be their own master. Without a prince, you can still be your own princess; without a king, you can still be your own queen. The key lies in whether your heart possesses that ability—the ability to seek and feel happiness. Life will never be smooth sailing, nor will everything go as planned. But life is always fair. No matter how life presents itself, face it calmly, without shock or fear, without blame or complaint. In good times, cherish; in hard times, change. Rather than waste energy complaining, it's better to value your time and strive forward!
When you reach the end of the stream, sit and watch the clouds rise. When you possess such a broad-minded attitude, no one can defeat you. Yet all of this stems from your inner strength. A strong heart comes from continuous learning; only through constant learning can you keep growing. When your heart grows increasingly calm and indifferent, it becomes ever more powerful. Happiness is actually very near: it may come from the outside world, but it must never depend on it.