How Can We Reproduce Happiness?
I’m writing this in the foreign land of Hokkaido, Japan. For any reason you might assume this piece of writing to be the cliché "Top 5 Things to Do In Hokkaido", I’m sorry. You’re heavily mistaken. If you’re keen to know more about Hokkaido, may I kindly suggest to head on elsewhere. But if you’re keen to know more about yourself and how to improve your life in general, feel free to stay. In a society where traveling has been made more affordable than ever and wanderlust gradually becomes the philosophical goal of most young adults, I’d imagine that some kid out there would hurl a baseball bat at me for saying the following.
"I don't enjoy traveling as much as I enjoy my morning Yakun bread toast with bed hair and slippers."
If you know me, or any other logical human beings, then you’ll understand that almost all homo sapiens detest doing things they don’t enjoy. I don’t find pleasure in traveling, but I see an utility in it. Which is why I embrace it with a big heart and open arms, something you don’t see often in Japan. You’ll probably see plenty of bows though. I believe when we travel, we’re not exactly looking out for one big eventful occurrence. It can’t be the case that you’re feeling over the moon for your entire journey. If you are, please let me know. I must be traveling wrongly, if traveling can actually be done right or wrong. Instead, we are looking for multiple small occurrences that define happiness for us. More often than not, they come in a form of a surprise since we’re in an unfamiliar territory.
Simply put, a vacation takes us a step forward in completing our definition of a fulfilled, or some would call, a retired life.
The happenings, be it a thing, a view or a feeling, may be small, but it affects you on a deep personal level. You start to have the sense or mindfulness to look up from your life and notice - this is what life should be about. Sun in your face, wind in your hair, but not a droplet of sweat weather, ridiculously sweet (and expensive) melons and HEATED toilet seats. Can you imagine how thankful your butt is? Not only are you warming its (?) cheeks, I believe it is fair to say that you are warming its soul too. This is the good part about life. These are the sweet spots hidden in dreary routine and administrative fluff. These are the happenings you want to know, experience and keep making them happen till you're awfully sick and tired of it. But, will you?
I have shared multiple steaming hot spring sessions with naked Japanese men nearing their 60s, and the soft "Ahh" they let out each time they sink their body in, gives me an inkling that they would very much enjoy doing this till the day they can't.
Happiness can be intricate, however it can be scarily simple too. Either way, its importance in all our lives probably can't be overstated. It is a spiritual anchor for me. If you're not happy, or doing things that will, in one way or another, make you happy, I believe you're living life wrongly. I dare say I’ve been luckier than most, in that I’ve stumbled into several moments I know, without a shadow of doubt, are my favourites. I will form them into regular routines, or maybe I'm already doing so. Semi-colon, right parenthesis. Over time, they will turn from routines to rites. At any point in your life, be it your workplace, a vacation or in a foreign land filled with ridiculously kind human beings, be sure to jot down your experiences when you feel suffused with a warming, aching joy.
Be specific in remembering, whether it is with pictures, words or videos, the almost magical electric thrill of being connected with happiness.
In this time and age, I believe we have no lack of resources and money, but a lack of contentment and fulfillment. From time to time, we know how to experience it, but not how to reproduce it. No doubt, such a sensation is rare, valuable and elusive; like a legendary Pokémon. However, at least now we know we’re a step closer in creating and completing our definition of a life worth living. Other than the cool weather, Japanese melons, heartwarming toilet seats and partially-embarrassing Onsen sessions, I also learned that I love Hokkaido milk ice cream, fresh sashimi and eggs. It appears that I’m simply listing down food after food.
Chotto matte kudasai!
Feast on the lakeside dining view of New Akan Hotel, not to mention its glorious sky pool. I was utterly mesmerized, and I’m sure you would be too. I also love the attention to details of the culture, as well as the compartmentalization of their rooms. It is functional, artful and homely; all at the same time. But if you were to put a gun to my head, I’ll spill my most vulnerable truth. I am enamored by the tranquility of the streets and how the streams whisper gently in the morning peace. I sat by the wooden bench and my mind wandered, "How perfect would it be, if you were here with me?"
