Happiness on your own term..

After a Sunday packed with fun, laughter, and a bit of chaos, I did feel a little tired by the end of the night — but honestly, all that joy? It made the tiredness feel irrelevant.

The morning began with a Rotary fellowship, set to the theme of a fair. And sure, a fair can leave you drained, but if your evening ends with a dear friend’s birthday party, does fatigue even stand a chance?

So, after that late-night celebration, today started off a little slow — a bit of a haze. And then came the news: a senior journalist friend had died by suicide. It hit hard. I’d never seen him anything but cheerful — always with a smile, always with that warm, spirited voice that made people feel seen.

To think that someone so full of life was quietly struggling with loneliness and illness is... unsettling.
It made me wonder: was he really as happy as he seemed? Or was that joy something he wore like a well-practiced mask?

That thought lingered — how if someone doesn’t have anything in life beyond work, if they never explore hobbies or personal joys, things can become really heavy.
Some people just don’t get it — they don’t understand why others love being around people, going to parties, or just being part of a crowd. They don’t see the difference between being alone and feeling alone.

Maybe that’s why, as we get older, the need for meaningful friendships grows. After spending years building a career and earning well, there comes a quiet wish to give something back — to the world, to the community, or maybe just to your own sense of joy. And really, what’s wrong with wanting to live a little for yourself?

Then, of course,   someone saw my Facebook post and took it upon himself to start offering advice about what I should or shouldn’t be doing.
He saw just enough to have an opinion — but not enough to truly understand.

Honestly? If you want peace, you have to keep such judgmental people at a distance. Their negativity is more damaging to mental health than they’ll ever realize.

What I’ve learned is that people who are deeply involved in something they love — whether it’s art, travel, gardening, or just good old-fashioned fun — not only seem happier, but are genuinely more balanced in body and mind.

Have you ever felt like you're getting old?
That odd tiredness after doing absolutely nothing... the boredom that creeps in?
It feels like aging, but let’s be honest — that’s not what growing old really is.

Real aging is when you start judging everything others do, when you become stubbornly convinced you’re always right, and when your friends slowly start disappearing. That’s when it’s time to pause and ask: Am I becoming toxic?

If you can enjoy life in your own way — through good work, great company, travel, celebration, or simple pleasures — that’s beautiful. If you choose not to, that’s okay too.
But please, don’t look down on those who do. Don’t rain on someone else’s sunshine.

Sometimes, just opening a window in your mind is enough to remind you:
Jeena issi ka nam hai