By: Amrita Sahu – (Researcher, Human Rights)

Happiness in life does not depend on people surrounding us. Of many things happening in day to day life, this is one thing I learnt in most difficult way. When nothing is going right in our life, and circumstances pull us down, we hit the bottom of pit. It continues to be so for days, for months and for years at times. Should we stop smiling; certain things brings smile on our face still. Should we not be happy? Then for how long is the question we need to ask. We depend on people and at times we may think if this person will hear me out then I am sorted. If this particular situation changes in life then I will be happy. But does that really happen? Do the questions we have, unanswered, remain still as mystery? But we live and life goes on. It is a vicious cycle.

Few years back I was going through such a phase. It was about my PhD thesis submission. When I was extremely drained and just could not move ahead. I was standing at the railway station waiting for my train to arrive with my parents to return to Mumbai and move on with research work. My mother said the common few words which one hears numerous times. Here it is what she said to me that day and stayed in my heart- “In life you will face many situations, there will be always ups and downs. For everything if you get so worried and dismayed how will you live beta?” Very common but it was like right words said at the right time and stayed in my heart forever even after so many years.

Recently again when my life was pulling me down, I took a moment and thought, I am tired of being sad and a pity queen. What should be done then? What is it? Realisation dawned- my happiness was dependent on few people and few circumstances around me. I went mad and decided…well… not done. If I am not happy and unable to be happy, it is because I chose not to be happy. It took effort to figure once again my strengths and who I am and then pull up the sleeves. I decided to be happy and did everything to make me happy. I fell in love with myself again. Since then, again I have been so. It’s been months now. Circumstances have not changed; people are still the same around me. It is just about understanding self and zeal to make it happen.

I have every right to be happy and I am now…So do you too… Take a moment and think and step up. Choose to be happy and win over yourself.