Happily Ever After....When?

I find it strange that many of us live our lives preparing to live…yes, preparing to be happy, successful and contend someday. As if there is going to be a time where we can say, “ and we lived happily ever after”. I am sure many of us are familiar with the endings of such fairytales – no one ever knows what happens after they start to live happily ever after. I know of some people who have taken this route – I also knew a few people who never saw the end. They parted while they were preparing to live happily ever after. They were always tired and exhausted preparing for life – they didn’t have time to nurture relationships, connect with others or even get connected with their own selves. They departed not knowing who they are or why they were here. Many of them had excelled professionally, had climbed the ladder to the top, managed to hold some of the highest designations, owned mansions and lots of wealth, even had spouses and children but never had time to know them. To talk to them or listen to them or engage in any activities with them… Not because they didn’t care but they were busy preparing to live life one day.

We take life for granted and believe one day there is going to be a time when everything is hunky-dory. Well, I don’t know whether you have, but I have not reached this stage and nor do I believe, I will during my lifetime. The happiness of our lives is in the moments. There is always something or the other we have to deal with at any given time. Some crisis, some catastrophe, some trauma, some distressing issue. But if we look closely, happiness and success is also there – intertwined with all these…there is triumph, there is joy, there is satisfaction, there is laughter, there is love… It is there in the moments. Not in blocks of decades but in moments. Just like the precious gems, its there mixed in with the dirt and grime.

Some of us strive hard to gather all material things. Neglecting relationships – whether is spousal or parent-child or any other. We are busy gathering stuff to be happy one day. We have no time to talk or listen to others, we have no time to sit-together and enjoy a meal, we have no time to go for a relaxing walk, listen to some joyful music, attend a fun event…we have no time to hold hands, we have no time for a warm hug.. we don’t even have time to breath…. nothing. Because we are busy preparing to be happy one day. The sad part is some of us don’t even know what makes us happy –we have no time to know because we are too busy preparing to be happy someday.

I believe life is meant to be lived and not saved. Life is meant to be fully consumed before we depart. Yet some of us live like “Scrooge”, just being stingy – saving life for someday… not living our best lives now – saving every little goodness we have as if we will get a chance to pack them all and take them with us. Do you know of anyone who has done that? I don’t …