One scorching summer day, four friends: Ravi, Anu, Neha, and Ajay, decided to take a walk through a nearby forest to escape the heat. As they ventured deeper into the woods, they stumbled upon a beautiful clearing with a serene pond. The diversity of their experiencing was interesting:
Ravi, always quick to anger, felt agitated by the heat and the long walk. He grumbled about the lack of shade there and the mosquitoes buzzing around him.
Anu, who was sensitive and prone to worry, became upset when she noticed how far they had strayed from the village. She fretted about getting lost and not finding their way back home.
Neha, with her calm demeanour and positive outlook, felt at peace surrounded by nature’s beauty. She took in the sights and sounds of the forest, feeling grateful for the opportunity to spend time with her friends.
Ajay, known for his cheerful disposition, couldn’t help but smile as he watched a family of deer frolicking by the pond. He felt a sense of wonder and joy at the simple pleasures of life.
As they sat by the pond, each of them experiencing the same situation in their own way, they played a game of taking turns in sharing how they felt. Ravi, still grumbling about the heat and the mosquitoes, found himself unable to shake off his irritation.
Anu, despite the beauty of the clearing, remained preoccupied with thoughts of being lost in the woods. Her unmistakable fear was very much noticeable to everyone. Sensing her distress, Neha gently placed a hand on Anu’s shoulder, offering silent reassurance. Anu looked up, meeting Neha’s calm gaze, and felt a wave of comfort cover her up.
Neha, however, closed her eyes and took a deep breath, allowing herself to be enveloped by the tranquility of the moment. A sense of gratitude washed over her, and she was soon filled with an infectious ecstasy which could not be missed by her friends.
Ajay, noticing the varying reactions of his friends, marvelled at the complexity of human emotions. He realized that happiness wasn’t something to be found in external conditions but was a state of mind cultivated from within. As he watched the playfulness of the deer by the pond, he felt a profound sense of contentment fill him, knowing that true joy stemmed from embracing the present moment with an open heart.
In sharing their feelings and perspectives, the four friends
came to understand that happiness wasn’t a destination to reach but a journey
to be embraced. It wasn’t about waiting for circumstances to change but about
finding peace and joy in the midst of whatever life threw their way. And in
that realization, they found a deeper appreciation for the power of their own
minds to reshape their experiences and create their own happiness, no matter
what the external circumstances is.