Can Money Buy You Happiness?

 < Journaling Day 3 Prompt >

Can money buy you happiness? I would say yes and no!

Happiness is a journey of life, not one day which seems to be the happiest day of my life. Happiness is joy, happiness is togetherness, happiness is self love. Or, happiness is simply being content with your present and not looking back or ahead in time. It is not easy to achieve that so most of us seek joy and mindfulness. Happiness could be eating your favorite flavor of ice-cream after a long time. It could also be achieving your dreams and seeing your parents proud of you. It could even be just a simple message from a close friend after a long time, unprompted. These moments can sometimes be bought using money but not always. You cannot buy your dreams or pay your friend to text you so that you could feel happy. Yes, you can buy an ice-cream and have a gala time, but is it actually equivalent to the feeling of happiness or content? For a person who could not afford to even buy a meal the whole day would be delighted when presented with an ice-cream. On the other hand, another well-off person might be overjoyed when seeing that unique flavor of ice cream after a long time, but may go off to sleep at night, crying. 

Money does help us in achieving those small moments of pure joy or happiness, when there is no worry in the world. But, those moments are not always the moments we remember as our happiest moments. Try to remember and describe your moment/s where you felt unadulterated happiness. Is it the day you graduated and saw the happy tears in your parent's eyes? Is it the day you achieved something you have always wished of achieving? Is it the day your baby was born and you saw their eyes open for the first time? Or maybe you were the done who delivered the baby and held a newborn in your hands for the first time? There are so many instances one could think of when such moments happen and these are the moments we live for. You might feel very happy when you've bought a new dress or a piece of jewellery. But, those moments would pass. 

But, yes money does help us reach that level of happiness but it cannot buy us happiness completely. You need someone to share that happiness with. I have been through a lonely period of time when I had money, but that money did not get me through those years of depression. It was my family and my closest friends who helped. Money helped me get excited over small joys, like a hearty meal after a long day but it did not get rid of the loneliness, sadness, helplessness and hopelessness. 

So, Yes, Money can buy you small bouts of happiness, but other feelings (like love, proudness, friendship, etc.) will bring you moments of happiness which you will be able to recollect even after decades of your life.

Good Morning and Happy Raksha Bandhan to anyone who is reading. 🍀

Journaling Day 2: What emotions am I holding on to?

 Good morning you! 

Today's journaling prompt brings out so many more emotions that I didn't even know I was holding on to. There are so many that I don't understand where to start from. There is the emotion of sadness and betrayal from so many people, including my family. There is the feeling of disgust at the present world and at the views of certain people. There is the feeling of regret of not doing what I should have done and how I let my life be at a standstill for almost 4-5 years. 

But there is also happiness and feeling proud of myself for moving on and building my life and myself again. There is the feeling of gratitude towards myself and towards others who stood by me when my life was crumbling. But, somehow these positive feelings take a backseat every time and make me feel that I do not deserve these feelings. I try every day and I am bringing myself back together day after day. It will take time but it will happen one day. That day I'll actually be able to be proud of myself for achieving everything that I have and will in the future. My life doesn't get to be still anymore. I am just mending my wings before I fly again.

Have a good day ahead. 🌸

Journaling Day 1: What do I know to be true that I didn’t know a year ago?

 A year ago would be August 2020 or let's just say the year COVID lockdown happened. Final exams of my dental degree were postponed. Part 2 of final year had just started online. I was at my home finally after spending the initial months with my relatives. My dog had started getting used to his new home. Was I at my best? No. I was getting myself through each day hoping for a future which looked very uncertain right now. I had already lost 2 years of my life before my career has even started. What did the future even hold right now? Did I ever thought about leaving everything and pursuing an easier alternative? Definitely. But did I ever leave? No.

Fast forward one year, I have given my last theoretical exam of my Bachelors degree. It went really well. Waiting for my practical exam and I know this time that I will ace them. The day won't be far when I can finally put Dr. before my name. Ah! finally!

What changed in this year? 

Well, a lot has changed in the span of one year. I am at a better place mentally and physically. I look back and I cannot understand where all these years went by. I stood in my own shadows and let life crumble me over and over again. I have learnt in this year that no one is above my mental peace and if something is not agreeing with me, I shall ignore that thing or person from my life. My priority in life is Me, Myself and I. This might sound selfish but I have given myself to others for the last 25 years honestly. I did not gain anything. They moved on with their lives and left me rotting. All I lost was my self esteem and self confidence. Those days are long gone now. This is a new Me. And I shall not let anyone, not even my family, ever bring me down. I will not stay quiet and listen to your shit. I will speak and I will make sure others hear me. This last year has changed me a lot and has shown a lot about who actually belongs in my life. My life came to a standstill but I shall fly now and everyone will see me thrive and as my school's motto used to be "Soaring High Is My Nature", I will soar higher and higher.