Let’s have a break 2 – seek out happiness!

In our ‘Taking A Break Series’, we continue our harvest of stories from WhatsApp. As always, the credit always goes back to the brilliant minds who first created the stories but who, unfortunately, because of the nature of the social media, have had their names forgotten in the ‘forwards’. But remember to always seek out happiness – as the first story advises:

 

HOW TO SEEK OUT HAPPINESS: The story is told of a rich lady who complained to her psychiatrist that she felt her whole life was empty and had no meaning, and asked how she could seek out happiness. The counsellor called over the old lady who cleaned the office floors and said to his patient: “I’m going to ask Mary here to tell you how she found happiness. All I want you to do is listen.” So the old lady put down her broom and sat on a chair and told her story: “Well, my husband died, and three months later my only son was killed by a car. I had nobody and nothing left. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, never smiled at anyone and even thought of taking my own life. Then one evening a little kitten followed me home from work. Somehow I felt sorry for that kitten. It was cold outside, so I decided to it in. I got some milk, and the kitten licked the plate clean. Then it purred and rubbed against my leg and, for the first time in months, I smiled. Then I stopped to think – if helping a little kitten could make me smile, may be doing something for people could make me happy. So, the next day I baked some biscuits and took them to a neighbour who was sick in bed. Every day I tried to do something nice for someone. It made me so happy to see them happy. Today, I don’t know of anybody who sleeps and eats better than I do. I’ve found happiness, by giving it to others.” When she heard this, the rich lady cried. She had everything that money could buy, but she had lost the things which money cannot buy. The beauty of life does not depend on how happy you are, but on how happy others can be because of you.

 

KEEP ON REPAIRING THOSE HOLES: A painter was given the job of painting a boat. While painting, he realised there was a hole in the hull and decided to repair it. When he finished painting, he received his money and left. The next day, the owner of the boat came to the painter and presented him with a nice cheque, much higher than the payment for painting. The painter was surprised: “You’ve already paid me for painting the boat!” The owner said: “But this is not for the paint job. It’s for having repaired the hole in the boat.” “Ah! But it was such a small service, certainly it’s not worth such a high amount for something so insignificant!” “My dear friend, you do not understand. Let me tell you what happened. When I asked you to paint the boat, I forgot to mention about the hole. When the boat dried, my children took the boat out to sea. They did not know that there was a hole. I was not at home at that time. When I returned and noticed they had taken the boat, I was desperate because I remembered that the boat had a hole. Imagine my relief and joy when I saw them return. I then examined the boat and found you had repaired the hole! You see what you did? You saved the life of my children! I do not have enough money to pay your ‘small’ good deed.”

WINNING A FRIEND LOSES AN ENEMY: A farmer in ancient China had a hunter neighbour who owned ferocious and poorly trained hunting dogs. The dogs jumped over the fence frequently and chased the farmer’s lambs. The farmer asked his neighbour to keep his dogs in check, but this fell on deaf ears. One day the dogs again jumped the fence, attacked and severely injured several of the lambs. The farmer had had enough, and went to town to consult a magistrate. The judge listened carefully to the farmer’s story and said: “I could punish the hunter and instruct him to keep his dogs chained or lock them up. But you would lose a friend and gain an enemy. Which would you rather have, friend or foe for a neighbour?” The farmer replied that he preferred a friend. “Alright, I will offer you a solution that keeps your lambs safe, and which will keep your a neighbour a friend.” Having heard the judge’s solution, the farmer agreed. Once at home, the farmer immediately put the judge’s suggestions to the test. He took three of his best lambs and presented them to his neighbour’s three small sons, who were beside themselves with joy and began to play with them. To protect his son’s newly acquired playthings, the hunter built a strong kennel for his dogs. Since then, the dogs never again bothered the farmer’s lambs. Out of gratitude for the farmer’s generosity toward his sons, the hunter often shared the game he had hunted with the farmer. The farmer reciprocated by sending the hunter lamb meat and cheese he had made. Within a short time the neighbours became good friends. A saying in old China went something like this, “One can win over and influence people the best with gestures of kindness and compassion.” A similar Western saying: “One catches more flies with honey than with vinegar.”

WHEN THE JOURNEY IS SO SHORT: A young lady sat in a public transport. An old, grumpy, disagreeable lady came in and sat by the young lady and bumped into her with her numerous bags. She didn’t even look at the offended young lady, let alone apologise. Another passenger sitting across got upset, asking the young lady why she did not protest and insist on her rights. The young lady responded with a smile: “It is not necessary to argue over something so insignificant! I’ll alight at the next stop. The journey is so short.” Here’s a response which deserves to be written in golden letters in our daily behaviour. 

 

​​​REMAIN ON TOP OF YOUR GAME: An old man wrote a will to his two very disrespectful and disagreeable sons who were impatient that he was still alive: “After my death, demolish this house and you will find a metal case down the foundation where you will find everything you need for the rest of your life.” They started praying to God: “Oh Lord! Our Dad is old! Please take him to You!” Two years later, the old man died and they buried him immediately. The following day, they completely demolished the house to its foundation. Down there, they found a metal case alright. On opening it, they found a piece of paper on which was written: “If you are real men, construct your own house.”

 

YOUR TALENT IS ALWAYS PRICELESS: Once a bird asked a bee:​ “After constant hard work, you prepare honey. But then a man comes and steals it. Do you not feel sad?” Wonderful reply by the bee:​ “Never. Because the only thing man can do is to steal my honey, not the art of making honey.” In this world, anyone can copy your creations, but no one can copy your talent.

AND TO MR. GBENGA IROKO: Thank you for reminding me that I did not say Merry Christmas to my readers at the end of last week’s column. I apologise. Therefore, HAPPY NEW YEAR Gbenga and all Readers!