a little book of happiness
TRANSCRIPT
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RuskinBond is the author of numerous novellas, short-story collections and non-fiction books, many of them classics. Among them are The Room on the Roof, AFlight ofPigeons,TheNight Train atDeoli,Time Stops at Shamli,LandourDays,Rain in the Mountains,A Book of Simple Living and Friends in Wild Places. HereceivedtheSahityaAkademiAwardin1993,thePadmaShriin1999andthePadmaBhushanin2014.HelivesinLandour,Mussoorie,withhisextendedfamily.
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ALittleBookof
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LastSaturday,whenIwasautographingbooksatthelocalbookshop,ayoungcollegestudentaskedme,‘Whatisthesecretofhappiness?’
AtfirstIcouldn’tthinkofananswer,excepttosay,‘It’snosecret.Happinessisrightnexttoyou’—withparticularreferencetotheprettygirlwhoaccompaniedhim.
But thinking about it now, I suppose happiness means different things to differentpeople.
Beena is happiest in her pooja room, or when she is on the phone talking to herchildren—SiddharthinNewDelhi,ShrishtiinBhubaneshwar,GautaminDehradun.
Rakeshishappybehindthewheelofhiscar;thelastplacewhereIwouldbehappy,havingoncedriventhroughagardenwallinFriendsColony,NewDelhi.
NoramIhappyonamotor-cycle,whichiswhereSiddharthlikestobehappy.Andyouwon’tfindmeintheBeautyParlour,frequentedbyShrishtiwhenshe’shomeonholiday.
Somepeoplearemiserablewhenit’srainingheavilyandtheycan’tgoshopping.I’mquitehappyonarainydaybecausethenIcancurluponasofa,visitBlandingsCastlewith P.G. Wodehouse, enjoy a village cricket match with Mr Pickwick and hisDickensianfriends,orgorowingontheThameswithJeromeK.Jerome’sthreemenandadog.Agoodbookonarainydayishappinessforme.
AsawriterIamalsohappywhenIhavecompletedastoryorpoemoressayandfeelpleasedwithit.Ontheotherhand,failedcreationsmakemeunhappyandIdon’tlikeleavinganythingunfinished.IfIamnothappywithsomethingIhavewritten,itgoesintothewaste-paperbasket.
Weallhavetodosomethinginlife,andifouroccupationorvocationorprofession
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givesuspleasure,well,that’shappiness.
Sochoosewell,myfriend.Beforeyou launchouton the journeyof life,makesurethatthecareerorlifestylethatyouhavechosenissomethingthatyoureallywanttofollow.
Andmaysomeofthewordsinthislittlebookhelpyoutorealizeyourdreams.
RuskinBondApril,2016
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‘Happinessisasgoodasfood.’—AnAfricanproverb
‘Onejoyscattersahundredgriefs.’
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—Anonymous
Havingbumbledthrougheightyyearswithoutpermanent
injury,Iamnowiserthananoldcabbage!IonlyknowthatforthemostpartIhavefollowedinstinctratherthan
intelligence,andthishasresultedinamodicumofhappiness.Lifehasn’tbeenabedofroses.Andyet,quiteoften,I’vehadroses
outofseason.
Happinessisnotwaitingtobefound;there’snouselookingforit.Allweneedtodoistofind
thebarrierswithinourselvesthatwehavebuiltagainstit.Trust—inpeople,inlife—isagoodway
tobegin.
‘Whynotseizethepleasureatonce?Howoftenishappiness
destroyedbypreparation,foolishpreparation!’—JaneAusten
IcomeuponmyfriendPitamberdancingontheroadonenight.
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‘Whyareyoudancinginthemiddleoftheroad?’Iask.
‘BecauseIamhappy,’hesays.‘Andwhyareyousohappy?’HelooksatmeasifIamafool.‘BecauseIamdancinginthemiddleoftheroad,’hesays.
Feelingdownandout?Liftupyourheadandshout—‘It’sa
greatday!’
Happinessisamatteroftemperamentratherthan
circumstance.Totakelifelightlyandingoodhumouristoget
themostoutofit.
Whetherbyaccidentordesign,wearehere.
Let’smakethemostofit,myfriend.
Makehappinessourpursuit,Spreadalittlesunshine
hereandthere.Enjoytheflowers,thebreeze,
Rivers,seaandsky,Mountainsandtallwavingtrees.Greetthechildrenpassingby,
Talktotheoldfolk,bekind,myfriend.
Holdonintimesofpainandstrife;
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Untildeathcomes,allislife.
Happinessisaselusiveasabutterfly,andwemustneverpursueit.Ifwestayverystill,itmaycomeandsettleonourhand.Butonlybriefly.Wemustlearntosavourthemoment.
‘Wemustbewillingtoletgoofthelifewehaveplanned,soastohavethelifethatis
waitingforus.’—E.M.Forster
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Expectgood,andgoodwillcome.
Tobehappy,youmusthave
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compassion—notonlyfortheworld,butalsoforyourself.Andyoushouldknowthat
contentmentiseasiertoattainthanhappiness,andthat
itisenough.
Forallitshardshipsandcomplications,lifeissimple,andanaturethatdoesn’tsueforhappinessoftenreceivesitin
largemeasure.
‘Thatmanishappiestwholivesfromdaytodayandasksnomore,garneringthesimple
goodnessoflife.’—Euripides
‘Behappy.It’sonewayofbeingwise.’—Colette
‘Tobewithoutsomeofthethingsyouwantisan
indispensablepartofhappiness.’—BertrandRussell
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Thefirstconditionofhappinessisthatamanmustfindjoy
inhiswork.
Ihaveyettomeetaneuroticcarpenterorstonemasonor
clay-workerormastercraftsmanofanykind.Thosewhofashionbeautifulthingswiththeirhandsareusuallywell-balancedpeople.
Thefeweryourdesires,thegreateryourhappiness.
‘Ifastrawcantickleaman,itisaninstrumentofhappiness.’
—JohnDryden
Thereisnohappinesswithoutlove.Andtofindloveyoudon’tgolookingforit;youonlyneedtoopenthedoorsandwindowstoyourheart.Andifthelovedoesnotlast,therewillbe
memoriestokeepyouwarmoncoldandgloomydays.
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Thewindcarriesthemutedsoundofconversation,thehillsideringswithlaughter.
There’sacelebrationsomewhere.Fromadistance,thesearegoodsoundsonacoldandsilentnight.Thethoughtofhappypeopleintheneighbourhoodputsmeinagoodmood.
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IntothewoodsonanOctoberafternoon.Ilieinthesun,onsweet-smellinggrass,andgazeupthroughapatternofoakleavesintoablindingblueheaven.AndIpraisegodfor
leavesandgrassandthesmellofthings—thesmellofmintand
bruisedclover—andthetouchofthings—thetouchofgrassandairandthesky’sblueness.
ThismorningIwasponderingontheabsenceofaphilosophyorreligiousoutlookinmy
make-up,andfeelingalittlelowbecauseitwascloudyanddarkoutside.ThenthecloudsbrokeupandthesuncameoutandalmostimmediatelyIfeltanupliftofspirit.Nophilosophywouldbeofusetoapersonsosusceptibletochangesinlightandshade.Nophilosophy
wouldbenecessary.
‘Thehappinessofyourlifedependsuponthequalityof
yourthoughts.’―MarcusAurelius
‘Ifyoudon’thavehornsyouarenotabull,andifyouarenot
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warmandfriendlyyoucan’tbehappy.’
—ABhutaneseproverb
‘Allsufferingthereisintheworldcomesfromdesiringonlymyself
tobehappy.’—Shantideva
‘Somedayyouwillfindoutthatthereisfarmorehappinessinanother’shappinessthan
inyourown.’—HonorédeBalzac
Growagarden,orsomeleavesandflowersinoldtincansor
plasticbuckets.Watereachplanteverymorning,givingityourfullattention.Standbackandwatchthewatersparklingonleafandpetal,andyouarereadytoface
thestormiestofdays.
AmongtheTurksthereisasaying:Patienceattractshappiness;itbringsnear
thatwhichisfar.
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AndamongtheMasaisthereisthisbelief:Happyishewhoseownfaultspreventhimfromcastigatingthefaultsofothers.
Ifwehaveneverbeenunhappy,howwillweknowwhen
happinesscomes?
Twothingsmakelifeworthliving:agoodjokeandagood
digestion.
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Contemplatingthetinyladybirdonthewildrosegivesonehopethatthereismoretolifethan
interestrates,dividends,marketforcesandinfinitetechnology.
Thereisspaceforthebigandthesmall;thereisspaceforyouand
meandtheladybird.
‘Whenthefirstbabylaughedfor
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thefirsttime,thelaughbrokeintoathousandpiecesandtheyallwentskippingabout,andthatwasthebeginningoffairies.’
—J.M.Barrie
‘Don’tletonecloudobliteratethewholesky.’—AnaïsNin
IfIamfitenoughtogambol,Imustgambol.Whyshouldit
matterthatIamold?Theworldislikeacheerlessheadmaster,alwaystellingyoutobehave.Itlikestoputyouinabox,butyoumustneverletitsucceed.Theinsideofabox
isnotahappyplace.
Imaynothavecontributedanythingtowardstheprogressofcivilization,butneitherhaveIrobbedtheworldofanything.Eventhespideronthewalliswelcometohisspace.Afterall,hegivesmemine,andwe
arebothatpeace.
‘Happinessiswhenwhatyou
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think,whatyousayandwhatyoudoareinharmony.’—MahatmaGandhi
‘Happinessistheonlygood,reasontheonlytorch,justicetheonlyworship,humanitytheonlyreligionandlovetheonlypriest.’
—RobertG.Ingersoll
‘Thoseborntowealth,andwhohavethemeansofgratifying
everywish,knownotwhatistherealhappinessoflife,
justasthosewhohavebeentossedonthestormywatersoftheoceanonafewfrailplankscanalonerealizetheblessings
offairweather.’―AlexandreDumas
‘Lifeworksuponacompensatingbalance,andthehappinesswegaininonedirectionweloseinanother.Asourmeansincrease,sodoourdesires;andweeverstandmidwaybetweenthetwo.Whenweresideinanattic,weenjoyasupperoffriedfishandstout.Whenweoccupythefirstfloor,ittakesanelaboratedinnerattheContinentaltogiveusthesameamountofsatisfaction.’
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—JeromeK.Jerome
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Alocalracketeer,whohasbeeninjailacoupleoftimes,meetsmeontheroadandcomplimentsmebecauseI’m‘alwayssmiling’.
Ithinkbetterofhimfortheobservation.
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Ifyoucansmilewhenyoufeelhurt,thehurtishalfcured.
Happinessisnottheoppositeofsorrow.Theyco-exist;inthatacceptancewetakethefirststep
towardsinnerpeace.
‘Happinessalwayslingerswithunhappiness.Theyaretwosidesofthesamecoin.Whenthewholecoindropsfromyourhandyouareneitherhappy
norunhappy.’—Osho
‘Don’tcrybecauseit’sover,smilebecauseithappened.’
―DrSeuss
Wehaveasmuchrighttocryaswehavetolaugh.Mengiventotearsaregoodmen,goesanold
Greeksaying.
Ifatortoisecouldrun,Andlossesbewon,
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Andbulliesbebutteredontoast;Ifasongbroughtashower,Andagungrewaflower,Thisworldwouldbebetter
thanmost.
‘Ifeltmylungsinflatewiththeonrushofscenery—air,mountains,trees,people.Ithought,“Thisiswhatit
istobehappy.”’―SylviaPlath
Oneoflife’sgreatestpleasuresisfree.Itliesinwatchingaplantgrow—fromseedtoseedling,to
greenbranchtobough,toflowertofruit.
‘Havingagreatintellectisnopathtobeinghappy.’—StephenFry
‘Laughteristhelanguageofthesoul.’
—PabloNeruda
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Liveclosetonatureandyourspiritwillnotbeeasilybroken,foryoulearnsomethingof
patienceandresilience.Youwillnotgrowrestless,andyouwill
neverfeellonely.
Amynahbirdalightsonthewindowsill,deliversashortspeech,waitsformetonod
myapprovalandtakesoff.Mybirthdaygiftinadvance.
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Lastnight,asIlaysleeplessInthesummerdark
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Withwindowopentoinviteabreeze,
SoftlyafireflyflewinAndcircledroundtheroomTwinklingatmefromfloor
orceiling,Lightinguplittlespaces—
Afriendlypresence,dispellingThesettledgloomofan
unhappyday.
‘Neverdespair.’—Horace
Neverbelievethosewhotellyouthattherearenosecond
beginningsinlife.Everydayisachancetostartafresh.Veryoften,allsatisfactionandachievement
isintheeffort.
Thewhistlingthrushishere,bathingintherainwaterpuddle
beneathmywindow.Hisblue-blackwingsglitterinthesunshine.Helovesthisspot.Sonow,whenthereisnorain,Ifillthepuddlewithwater,justsomyfavouritebirdkeepscoming.
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‘Foreveryminuteyouareangryyoulosesixtyseconds
ofhappiness.’―RalphWaldoEmerson
Threemantrasofhappiness:
Thinkofoldfriends.Makenewfriends.
Becomeyourownbestfriend.
‘Asurewaytolosehappiness,I’vefound,istowantitattheexpenseofeverythingelse.’
—BetteDavis
‘Donotanticipatetrouble,orworryaboutwhatmayneverhappen.Keepinthesunlight.’
—BenjaminFranklin
‘Ifyouwanttobehappy,be.’—LeoTolstoy
Happinessdoesnotarrivewithfireworks.Itsettlesinquietly,longbeforeyourecognizeit.Andsometimesitisgone
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beforeyoudo.
‘Peoplewhodreamwhentheysleepatnightknowofaspecialkindofhappinesswhichtheworldofthedayholdsnot,aplacidecstasyandeaseof
heartthatarelikehoneyonthetongue.Theyalsoknow
thattherealgloryofdreamsliesintheiratmosphereof
unlimitedfreedom.’—KarenBlixen
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Ifwehavetheeyestosee,andearstolisten,theworldisneverwithoutthingstosoothethe
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heart.Eachdaythereisbirdsongandmoonlight,flowersandoldfamiliars,foodtosatisfyourhungerandwatertoquench
ourthirst.
Ilikeasausage,Ido;It’sadishforthechosenandfew.Oh,forasausageandmash,Andofmustardadash,
Andaneggnicelyfried—maybetwo?
‘Learntoletgo.Thatisthekeytohappiness.’
—ABuddhistteaching
‘Itismorefittingforamantolaughatlifethantolamentoverit.’
—Seneca
‘Thereisonlyonewaytohappinessandthatistocease
worryingaboutthingswhicharebeyondthepowerofourwill.’
―Epictetus
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‘Happinessisagiftandthetrickisnottoexpectit,buttodelight
initwhenitcomes.’—CharlesDickens
‘Whenwearehappy,wearealwaysgood,butwhenwearegood,wearenotalwayshappy.’
―OscarWilde
Alifeofconstantvirtue,likealifeofconstantvice,canonly
endinmisery.
Don’tbedepressedbyyoursurroundings.Thatpebbleat
yourfeethasasmuchbeautyasanygreatworkofart.
Idon’thavetoclimbtheEiffelTowertoseeacityspreadoutbeforeme.EverynightIseethelightsoftheDoontwinklinginthevalleybelow;eachnightisa
festiveoccasion.
Somepeoplechoosetosail
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aroundtheworldinsmallboats.Othersremainintheirownsmallpatch,yetseetheworldina
grainofsand.
‘Happinessisnotahorse,youcannotharnessit.’—ARussianproverb
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Listentothenightwindinthetrees,
Listentothesummergrasssinging;
Listentothetimethat’strippingby,
Andthedawndewfalling.Listentothemoonasit
climbsthesky,Listentothepebbleshumming;
Listentothemistinthetremblingleaves,
Andthesilencecalling.
‘Happinessisnevergrand.’—AldousHuxley
‘Thetruesecretofhappinesslies
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intakingagenuineinterestinallthedetailsofdailylife.’
—WilliamMorris
‘Godblesstheinventorofsleep,thecloakthatcoversall
men’sthoughts.’—Cervantes
Apillowcanmakeallthedifferencetoone’slife.Sleep
withthewrongpillowandyou’llwakeupanangryman.Theright
pillow,andyouwakeupahappyman.
Andhere’sagemfromabookofBhutanesewisdom:‘Donotchirruptoomuchaboutyour
happiness,anddonotwhinetoomuchaboutyourunhappiness.’
Whichmakesmethink:happinesssharedisanactof
compassion;happinessflaunted,anactofviolence.
‘Ishalltaketheheart.Forbrainsdonotmakeonehappy,and
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happinessisthebestthingintheworld.’
―L.FrankBaum
‘Wealllookforhappiness,butwithoutknowingwheretofindit:likedrunkardswholookfortheirhouse,knowingdimlythat
theyhaveone.’―Voltaire
Loveisasmysteriousashappiness—notellingwhenit
mayvisitus;whenitwilllookinatthedoorandwalkon,orcome
inanddecidetostay.Maybothloveandhappinessenteryourlife,dearreader,
anddecidetostay.
Formostpeoplelonelinessiswronglylinkedtounhappiness.Theirmindsarenotdeepenough
toappreciatethesweetnessandbalmofsolitude.
‘Ofallthemeanstoinsurehappinessthroughoutthe
wholeoflife,byfarthemostimportantisthe
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acquisitionoffriends.’―Epicurus
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Asinlife,soinart:onlyconnect.Ihavealwaysbelievedthatto
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communicateandbereadableisallthatawritershouldaimfor.Forawriter—asforanyartist,whetherapainteroracomedian—therecanbeno
greaterjoythanthisconnection.
‘Thecrowningfortuneofamanistobeborntosomepursuitwhichfindshimemploymentandhappiness,whetheritbeto
makebaskets,orbroadswords,orcanals,or
statues,orsongs.’―RalphWaldoEmerson
Howmanydreamsmighthavebecomehappyrealitiesbutforthatterriblesentence,‘Toomuch
trouble!’
‘Oneswallowdoesnotmakeasummer,neitherdoesonefine
day.Similarly,onedayorabrieftimeofhappinessdoesnotmake
apersonentirelyhappy.’
ThusspokeAristotle.Butbrieftimesofhappinesscanbe
sufficientgiftsforalifetime.Nooneisentirelyhappyforalltime.
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‘Happinesswhenyouaremiserable:
ToplantJapanesepoppieswithcornflowersandmignonette,
andbedoutthepetuniasamongthesweet-peassothattheyshallperfumeeachother.Toseesweet-peascomingup.
TodrinkverygoodteaoutofathinWorcestercup
ofacolourbetweenapricotandpinkshell…’—RumerGodden
‘I,notevents,havethepowertomakemehappyorunhappytoday.Icanchoosewhichitshallbe.Yesterdayisdead,tomorrowhasn’tarrivedyet.Ihavejustone
day,today,andI’mgoingtobehappyinit.’―GrouchoMarx
‘Allofman’smiseriesstemfromhisinabilitytositquietlyin
aroomalone.’—BlaisePascal
‘Whyshouldwebuildourhappinessontheopinionsofothers,whenwecanfinditin
ourownhearts?’―Jean-JacquesRousseau
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Tobeabletolaughandtobeabletocare—justthismuchwill
ensureagoodlife.
‘Wehavenomorerighttoconsumehappinesswithoutproducingitthantoconsumewealthwithoutproducingit.’―GeorgeBernardShaw
‘Onlythedevelopmentofcompassionandunderstandingforotherscanbringusthetranquilityandhappiness
weallseek.’―DalaiLamaXIV
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‘Ifeltoncemorehowsimpleandfrugalathingishappiness:aglassofwine,aroastchestnut,awretchedlittlebrazier,thesound
ofthesea.Nothingelse.’―NikosKazantzakis
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‘Happiness.Itcomesonunexpectedly.Andgoesbeyond,
really,anyearlymorningtalkaboutit.’
―RaymondCarver
‘Godgaveusourfaces,’saidGranny,‘wegiveourselves
ourexpressions.’
Grannyagain:‘Lifemaybeshort,butasmileisonlya
second’seffort.’
Thepastisanothercountry,someonehassaid,anditisgoodtogothereonavisitonceinawhile.ItisthesmallthingsIremembermostvividlyfrommypast.Theycometomelikepiecesofcinema-colouredslidesslippingacrossthescreenof
memory,bringingmesolace,andsometimesasmiletomylips.
‘Thedayreturnsandbringsusthepettyroundofirritatingconcernsandduties.Helpus
playtheman,helpustoperformthemwithlaughterand
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kindfaces.’—RobertLouisStevenson
‘Thesecretofhappinessisnotindoingwhatonelikes,butin
likingwhatonedoes.’―J.M.Barrie
‘Myflute,M.Poirot,ismyoldestcompanion.Wheneverythingelsefails,musicremains.’
—AgathaChristie
‘Mycatisselfish,smugandungrateful.Thenshejumpsonto
mylapandpurrs,askingtobeloved,andI’mhappy.’
—TalulaK.
Ifyouowenothing,youarerich.Moneydoesn’tmake
peoplehappy.Butneitherdoespoverty.Justenoughtobeyourownperson,andtolendahelpinghand—thatmuchwouldbethe
best,Isuppose.
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‘Ahotsunandahotwindblowing;Igohomeand
Iamhappy.’—AnItalianproverb
‘Thesecretofhappinessistofindacongenialmonotony.’
—V.S.Pritchett
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Ifyouhavetheability,orratherthegift,ofbeingabletosee
beautyinsmallthings,thenlifeholdsfewterrors.
Acherrytreeboweddownbythenight’srainsuddenlyrightsitself,flingingpelletsofcoolwaterinmyface.This,too,ishappiness.
ThereisaflowerImeetonmywalkdowntothebazaarthesedays.IthassprungoutofaplasticmuginMrsD’slittle
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balconyandisalwaysnoddinganddancinginthebreeze.
Itisahappyflower,deservingofahappy,lightname.IhavenameditMerryHeart,andsealedourfriendship.
AsI’vegrownolder,I’vestoppedfrettingtoomuch.Ilaugh
atmyselfmoreoften;Idon’tlaughatothers.Ilivelife
atmyownpace.AndIamcontent.
‘Forsomeofus,happinesscomeswhilewesleep.’
—AFrenchproverb
Slowdown,thereisn’talwaysatraintocatch.Makeyourwalkaslongandleisurelyaspossible,
andyouwillfindthattheworldyouthoughtuglyisfull
oflovelylittlesurprises.
ForaslongasIcanremember,Ihavebeenthehappiesttakingapath—anyoldpathwilldo—andfollowingituntilitleadsmetoaforestgladeorvillageorstreamor
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hilltop,orafaceIlongtosee.
Theadventureisnotinarriving,it’sintheon-the-wayexperience.Itisnotintheexpected;it’sinthesurprise.Youarenot
choosingwhatyoushallseeintheworld,butgivingtheworldanevenchancetoseeyou,
togettoknowyouand,perhaps,showyoujustthethingsyou
hadlongedtoseebutcouldneverfind.
Turnyourattentiontothesky,lookattheever-changingcloudpatternsfromyourwindow.Thereisnoendtotheshapesmadebytheclouds,ortothe
storiestheysetoffinyourhead.Wedon’thavetocircletheworld
inordertofindbeautyandfulfilment.
IrememberthemousewhosharedmyroominLondon
whenIwasseventeenandallonmyown.Hewasasmartlittlemouseandsometimeshewouldspeaktome—sharplittlesqueaks
toremindmeitwasdinnertime.TheroomwasnolongerasemptyandlonelyaswhenIhad
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firstmovedin.
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‘Thosewhobringsunshineintothelivesofotherscannotkeepit
fromthemselves.’—J.M.Barrie
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Childrenbringmejoy.SometimesIthinksmallchildrenaretheonlysacredthingsleftonthisearth.Childrenandflowers.
Helpastrangerindistress,doitwhenthereisnothingthatrequiresyoutodoso,andyouwillfindyouarelighter,happier.Andmaybeonedayastrangerwillextendahandwhenyoustumble,andonceagainyouwillfindhappinesswhenyou
leastexpectit.
Sometimes,whenallelsefails,asenseofhumourcomestotherescue.Laughatyourself,laugh
atfate,andsoldieron.
Byallmeansobservetheconventions,butrememberthatitisonlyinpersonal
independencethathappinessistobefound.Stayfree!
‘Happiness…isnotsomethingthatcanbedemandedfromlife,andifyouarenothappyyouhadbetterstopworryingaboutitand
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seewhattreasuresyoucanpluckfromyourownbrandofunhappiness.’
—RobertsonDavies
‘Makeupyourmindtobehappy.Learntofindpleasurein
simplethings.’—RobertLouisStevenson
Whatifyoufailedyesterday?Todayisnotyesterday.
Nothingcomparestothejoyofhard-wonsuccess.Nothingissweeterthanvictoryattheendofmanydefeats.
Eventhemostuninvitingandunromanticplaceswillsurprise
youwithsmallmiracles:moonlightonquietalleyspastmidnight.Orthescentof
quenchedearthandfallenneemleavesafterthefirstrains.Orthehappyriotoftheweeklybazaar.
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Hewhohashappychildrenisgreaterthanaking.
Andhewhospreadshappinessoutsidehishomeisgreaterstill.
Ifonedayyoushouldloseallyourmoney,whoknows—youmaybecomeahappyyogi!(Ifnot,makepeacewith
yourmisery.)
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‘Sometimesyourjoyisthesourceofyoursmile,butsometimesyoursmilecanbethesource
ofyourjoy.’—ThichNhatHanh
‘Happinessisahow,notawhat.Atalent,notanobject.’—HermannHesse
Liferarelyplaysbytherules.Beforeyousay,‘WhatdidIdotodeservesuchmisfortune!’
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thinkofallthetimesyoufoundhappinesswhenyouhaddone
littletodeserveit.
Letuslearnfromthehumblemarigold.Therosemaybethequeenofflowers,andthe
jasminetheprincessoffragrance,butthemarigoldholdsitsownthroughsheersturdiness,colourandcheerfulness,brighteningupwinterdays,oftenwhenthereis
littleelseinbloom.
‘Wemusttrytomaketheendofthejourneybetterthanthebeginning,aslongaswearejourneying;butwhenwecometotheend,wemustbehappy
andcontent.’—Epicurus
‘Thestormisover,thereissunlightinmyheart.’—P.G.Wodehouse
AsayoungmanIplantedaseed.InoldageIreaptherewards:awildcherrytreecoveredwithpalepinkblossoms,andalittle
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yellowsunbird,emittingasqueakylittlesong,flittingfrom
branchtobranch.
‘Ifyouwantahappyending,itjustdependsonwhereyou
closethebook!’―OrsonWelles
Dearreader,mayyouhavethewisdomtobesimple,andthe
humourtobehappy.
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Version1.0
PublishedinIndiabySpeakingTigerin2016
Copyright©RuskinBond
ePubISBN978-93-85755-98-9
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SpeakingTigerPublishingPvt.Ltd.4381/4,AnsariRoadDaryaganj,NewDelhi-110002India
www.speakingtigerbooks.com
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TableofContentsAbouttheAuthorTitlePageBookInformationIntroductionChapter1Chapter2Chapter3Chapter4Chapter5Chapter6Chapter7Chapter8Chapter9Chapter10Chapter11Chapter12Chapter13CopyrightEndPageBackCover