Savor and Interpret Your Life, and Happiness Will Find you, Always.
Hi, Let me tell you how I came to realize that happiness is actually that easy. I am truly happy, so happy with my life that it feels as if the world is mine.
In the midst of my journey, I overheard a conversation between two school kids riding a bicycle. One of them enthusiastically showed off his new trousers, while his friend simply replied, then what does that have to do with me? I could not help but smile hearing that, and I shared the incident with my best friend. Turns out, happiness is that easy, huh? my best friend said. I was taken aback for a moment. That is true, my mind agreed.
I smiled not to laugh at his friend's indifference towards the new trousers, but simply because the situation was so absurd and funny. Just imagine, in the middle of an out-of-context conversation, your friend suddenly blurts that out. Isn't that funny? But deep down, I thought, he is just a little kid being happy over something new he owns. It was his overflowing gratitude that unknowingly spread and made me feel happy too. He just wanted to express his joy, especially since those trousers might have come from the most precious people in his life, his parents. In my heart, I murmured, I am happy for you, little brother.
That is how I find my happiness. Small, yet I cannot deny that I am truly happy. To me, life just needs to be enjoyed as it is, and you will always find your happiness. No matter how small it is, savor it.
Just like what I am feeling right now. Ah, this feeling bothers me so much if I do not write it down. Exactly at 18:30, I am soaking in the tranquility of my life. Reading my book, underlining the texts I find important, with music in my ears, of course. A warm blanket is spread out, and best of all, my most comfortable bed. In the corner of my room, this is where I enjoy my everyday life. Suddenly, I stopped after thirty minutes. I just sat in silence, closing my eyes, enjoying the music and the warmth of my blanket. And I realized how calming and joyous this is. Truly.
And yes, I started grabbing my notes to write it down, that a meaningful life is not always about the luxury you own, it is not always about how others must meet your expectations, or how you have to always look happy when in reality you are not. Look around you and see how much impact it has on your life.
A little more story, on May 23, 2026, I went to Malioboro at night. There was a performance, a traditional dance by the indigenous people of Papua. Truly, they were so united and solid. They danced to the pounding beat of the music, it was so thrilling and beautiful to watch. Unconsciously, I jumped for joy, realizing how happy I was to witness that fleeting performance. I am so grateful to them, whose identities I do not even know.
In the middle of the performance, I saw them laughing freely, blending with the cheers of the audience who happily clapped for them. So did I, I dedicated my loudest applause to them. I saw a burning spirit, I saw how proud they were of their cultural heritage. Suddenly I realized how beautiful Indonesia is with its various distinct customs and cultures. It is truly mesmerizing if you pay attention. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, my mind muttered, unity in diversity. That is the Indonesia I know. They embraced one another, respected each other, took pride in their respective ethnicities, and it was an honor for me to see them with such acknowledgment.
Yet, behind that beauty and the roar of laughter, a sliver of ache quietly slipped into the corner of my chest. It feels so ironic and suffocating when my awareness is pulled toward a broader reality. The people who danced so freely tonight are often the ones whose living spaces are mostly stolen. And this is not just about them, but about anyone, in any corner of the earth, who has to stand in conflict with their own state. Those whose voices are silenced, whose existence is deemed a threat, and who are slowly marginalized from their homeland.
How cruel the world is when those who nurture their culture and guard their ancestral roots are treated like strangers in their own home. Life often forces them to swallow the injustices designed by a system. But look at them that night. Amidst all the wounds, denials, and threats of erasure, they chose not to surrender. They kept dancing, kept stomping their feet proudly, and laughed with a freedom that no one could ever confiscate.
That blazing fighting spirit amidst the oppression was what struck my consciousness hard, forcing me to stop mourning over trivial things. I am deeply thankful for that roaring fire of spirit. I am proud of you, of whoever you are, fighting to defend your rights and identity amidst the harsh blows of this world.
Coming back to it, what makes me truly happy is realizing that amidst the pressure, they still hold onto that unquenched spirit. Witnessing those faces full of laughter and pride radiates an unbeatable sense of peace and gratitude within my chest.
And in the end, it all leads me to one solid conclusion: that happiness is truly that easy. We are often fooled into demanding happiness from big things, validation from others, or exhausting standards. The truth is, happiness never hides in complicated places. It exists in the innocent smile of a little kid, in the warmth of a blanket at half past six in the evening, or in the stomping feet of the dancers who refuse to surrender on the streets of Malioboro. We only need to be present, open our eyes, and embrace this exact second. As long as we allow ourselves to realize it, happiness is that easy.
Savor and interpret your life, and happiness will find you, always.
