Fradam

As mentioned earlier, I am trying to record things that are on my mind, and what is important to me at this stage of my life. Ranking right up there, is the idea of happiness; the people around me being happy, and me in turn being happy also. So, what follows is a piece of my brain, kinda speaking to itself. Feel free to listen though, might learn something useful!

There are two things that people generally observe about me when meeting me.

1. I am tall.

2. I am smiling.

I smile because I’m happy (extra smiley faces added for dramatic effect). Why is the man in this picture smiling? Because he’s happy! Okay, so we’ve established that happiness is an important part of my life… but where does it originate?

In the people around me. It is an indelible fact that non-hermits are influenced by the world around us. Possibly hermits too in fact, but I haven’t undertaken any scientific research to test that theory yet. As we are all influenced by the events in the world around us, so, the happiness around us can in fact rouse similar emotions within us. So, I draw my happiness from those around me… it’s a pretty neat trick isn’t it? Not really — you probably do it too already. If you’ve got a friend who’s happy about something, you tend to feel a bit happier for them, right?
It is this principle which guides many if not most actions I take in life. The extent to which I influence others in their pursuit of happiness is contingent on the happiness I exude. Or to put it more succinctly: if I’m happy, those around me can be encouraged to be happy too.

This sounds all great in theory, but what about practice? If I was constantly happy, you might call me any/all of the following: delusional, insane, raving mad, nutty, senseless etc. No, it is a little something else… it is not quite consensus reality, but it is close. It is simply, optimism. Being hopeful, and looking for the bright side of the road. It is not about being silly, but about practical, realistic, optimism. It is possible, trust me!

So, if you’re still with me to this point, here is what we have established:

1. I am tall.

2. I am smiling.

3. My smiling is caused by happiness which is reflected off those around me and is in turn partially dependant upon the happiness that I emanate.

4. I am not insane.

Okay, that last bit might be a bit to swallow. But if we’re simply positive about the world, and optimistic about what the next day might bring, do we really know what we can do?

A classic example is public transport. I’m not sure how often we really think about it, but the drivers in our transport system can be quite pushed at times. They cop the flack of late night drunkards, have to try to be civil when on the job and generally don’t get much recognition from the people they see the most: their passengers. I make an effort as I disembark to thank the driver, and as I often use the rear exit, and am not soft-spoken, the words are reasonably audible to most people in the bus and surrounding suburbs. Nearly every time, it sparks a chain-reaction of many commuters suddenly remembering their manners and choosing to thank the driver.

What we have now is a happy driver who will go along their next bus route, all happy and cheery at the chorus of gratitude that was received at the close of their previous route. And then what? Just by their nature of being happy, they in turn affect their passengers who get on, with a friendly attitude and a smiling face. Bang, a chain reaction has been caused.

It is honestly that simple. If we look at the brighter side of the road, and remain optimistic, we are given real opportunity to affect the world around us, and in turn, feel happy at what we’ve done.

To close, I might just cite another example. A colleague at work the other day was not at his cheeriest best, and I was being optimistic about the situation. He admitted later, he was almost irritated at my attitude, but in a few days time, was feeling optimistic as well, saying “If you can’t beat em, join em!”

So, there you have it, the challenge is to go out and spread the happiness. Be optimistic in life, share your enthusiasm for the bright side of the road, and in turn, you can make a real difference in some lives. Sound a bit cliched? Not cliched enough? Well, take a look at this motivational image then!

Reach for the sky! … now that is cliched

But being happy/optimistic, never will be.

A quiet Sunday evening enabled me to discover an old letter I had started a number of years ago. The letter was unfinished, which is not so remarkable in itself. What perhaps was a little more peculiar, was the fact that it was addressed to me… and from me.

The general idea was, to preserve a piece of your mindset, a piece of your life, a piece of you, into this letter. Then, in the future, you could read the letter (as you are doing now), and get an insight to what it was like.

It was a little unnerving reading about what was important to me when I was younger.. at the same time, it was almost amusing too. The key point of it — learning a bit more about myself through self-reflection was a point which was left unaddressed to now. Being as I have not written any other letters to myself (or cards, ala Mr Bean), I figured I should try and document things elsewhere, and as the Internet is as good a place as any, may as well start here.

So, here goes nothing, the story begins!