Hello Mi Neighbour | Is there such a thing as lifelong happiness?

Wanna make some money? Scratch that. Wanna make a life? Scratch that too. Wanna be happy for the rest of your life? Now yuh talking! Let’s talk. Tried and proven ways of making money are aplenty; so are tried and proven ways of making a life. It has also been proven that pursuing money-making ventures in the hope of making a life in pursuit of lifelong happiness has often led to lifelong misery. As Barbara Gloudon, of blessed memory, would say, “How yuh like dat?”

Is there such a thing as lifelong happiness? Hol’ a seat and let’s hol’ a reasoning. Happiness is defined as ‘an eduring state of mind consisting not only of feelings of joy, contentment and other positive emotions, but also a sense that one’s life is meaningful and valued’. It is not a permanent feature of one’s personality, but a fleeting, changeable state. Comfortable with that?

It is also said that happiness involves positive emotions and life satisfaction. Happiness means different things to different people. Cool? Of course that depends on their values, goals, and experiences. What about you? What makes you happy? What about the lady next door who always seems to be on cloud nine? Is she faking it? People do fake happiness from time to time. But, let them be. If it makes them happy, well … .

Happiness involves creating strong relationships! Some of the happiest people on earth are people who spend time with those whom they love. Nice. And I must interject something here: have you ever heard of a businessman by the name of Demos Shakarian? He asserted that “God has a particular gift for each of His servants, some special ability we’re to use for His Kingdom ... . The important thing is, He tells each of us to go. Go with whatever gift He has given — knowing that, when we find that gift and use it, no matter what the condition of the world around us, we will be the happiest people on earth.” Well said, sir! This businessman went on to write the book Happiest People on Earth. Read it for inspiration. For more, you may want to speak with any member of the Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International right here in Jamaica. That was a free plug.

Picking up from where I left off, intimacy with others fulfils two basic human needs: social connections and personal growth. Seeing to the well-being of others, and a good handle on how to navigate life in the good times and the bad times, generate happiness!

If you are a person of gratitude, one who forgives, gives to others and combines all these with a strong relationship with God, happiness will always find you. Gratitude is best expressed in writing or talking. Those who cannot forgive, suffer poor health, are easily angered and sink into depression effortlessly. These are all part and parcel of the natural reactions to negative emotions.

The Bible has a lot to say about happiness, although it may not always use the exact word, ‘happiness’:

· “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

· “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God ...”

· “Give thanks in all circumstances”

· “Whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.”

· “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver, and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.”

If your lifelong dream has been lifelong happiness, hope I’ve helped you for the rest of your life.

Be happy! And, in the meanwhile, kindly help a needy neighbour to be happy by donating one of the following:

1. Stove

2. Refrigerator

3. Bed

4. Food

5. Help with medication

6. Financial assistance to start a little business.

To help, please call Silton Townsend @ 876 649-9636 or deposit in acct # 351 044 276 NCB. Alternatively, send donations to Hello Neighbour C/o 53 Half-Way Tree Road, Kingston 10; Paypal/credit card: email: zicron22@yahoo.com. Contact email: helloneighbour@yahoo.com. Visit hellomineighbourja.blogspot.com. Townsend exclusively manages the collections and distributions mentioned in this column and is neither an employee nor agent of The Gleaner.