Twenty-Five Paths to Happiness

"Happiness depends upon ourselves."

- Aristotle -

Maybe it's not about finding one road that leads us in the direction of happiness, but about creating an endless array of paths.

 ONE. Watch a sunrise or sunset from start to finish.

TWO. Bake brownies for the sole purpose of licking the bowl.

THREE. Make a gift for someone.

FOUR. Take an evening walk during a fresh snowfall.

FIVE. Splurge at an art fair.

SIX. Hug an animal.

SEVEN. Tell people that you love them.

EIGHT. Travel the world without any particular expectations.

NINE. Go for a run in the rain.

TEN. Try a new cuisine.

ELEVEN. Watch reruns of 90s TV shows.

TWELVE. Live by the agree-to-disagree philosophy.

THIRTEEN. Make a scrapbook or photo album and relive the memories.

FOURTEEN. Volunteer not out of concern for your resume, but out of concern for the well-being of others.

FIFTEEN. Develop a (healthy) habit...

SIXTEEN. And break an unhealthy one.

SEVENTEEN. Share genuine laughter with another person.

EIGHTEEN.  Show gratitude toward your parents.

NINETEEN. Curl up with a blanket and a bestselling novel.

TWENTY. Choose to forgive, and refuse to let isolated incidents define and destroy healthy, fulfilling relationships.

TWENTY-ONE. Have a conversation with God.

TWENTY-TWO. Strive for a career based on contentment, not income.

TWENTY-THREE. Play a musical instrument.

TWENTY-FOUR. Take a walk in someone else's shoes.

TWENTY-FIVE. Never stop learning; never stop hoping; never stop being. 

Embrace.

The Duty to Bear Love

"Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, 
threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible."

- Maya Angelou -

Last week, I had the opportunity to be a part of an amazingly creative and thought-provoking project on campus: Tunnel of Oppression. A cast from diverse backgrounds spent hours rehearsing and preparing for a theatrical exploration of the countless everyday forms of oppression that exist in society. I performed my poem, "Kaleidoscope," for a scene on Islamophobia. When I wrote this piece last May, it was loosely inspired by personal experience, but I purposely left the identity of the narrator vague and implicit so that many people could connect with the subject matter at large - that of being judged prematurely based on your appearance or a misguided first impression. 

Kaleidoscope was and is a metaphor for human complexity. We're colorful, dynamic, and multidimensional. A single glance is not sufficient for producing an accurate portrait of a person. Her beliefs, fears, ambitions, personality... her life story remains virtually unknown. People mistake what you are for who you are.

The thing is, Tunnel could not have arrived at a better time. The sociopolitical atmosphere is ripe with ignorance and prejudice. One click of the mouse and one glance at the front page headlines reveal cases like Shaima Alawadi and Trayvon Martin - tragedies that should never have occurred, but most likely will again. A woman was beaten to death for her hijab and Muslim identity, and a young man was shot for the color of his skin and his decision to wear a hooded sweatshirt. Passers-by prejudged and misjudged and acted out of hatred. Ignorance bred hatred, and hatred bred violence. Now we're left with injustice.

In our country's history, there has been a great deal of discussion on the right to bear arms. I have no objection to the general notion of self-defense, and I recognize that guns can be useful for some Americans, such as seasonal hunters. I even admit that I participated in (and enjoyed) riflery during a summer camp years ago. But I think the emphasis placed on this right has gotten out of control and has overshadowed an important responsibility.

The duty to bear love.

More important than an American right is a duty to humanity. It transcends national borders and knows no color, language, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. Each of us lives in a web of privilege and oppression, and it's up to us to acknowledge it and let this consciousness fuel love and acceptance, not hate. Maybe you could have been Trayvon, or I could have been Shaima. But we're all human. 

Isn't that enough?


Embrace.