Being eccentric by nature, people think I must be a billionare.
In reality we are all eccentric. Since the opinions of others matters little to them only the powerful, wealthy and very poor, dare to display their true nature. The rest of the people have to struggle and conform to generally implied norms of behaviour.
We are all wealthy, but we are mostly confused about what constitutes wealth. Money and assets by themselves cannot bring happiness. Happiness is not a goal but the defining nature of a truly wealthy person. Its a state of being.
I smile and laugh a lot, and usually also land up getting others to smile and laugh. I have realised that those moments divorce us from the pressures and challenges that life constantly throws at us.
The gift of life is fascinating, and for me life is a game to be played with joy and abandon. Everyday presents numerous opportunities to play the game of life in differing ways, rising and falling, joining and breaking, acquiring, and losing but learning, and sharing all the time.
I have discovered that there are many of us who are wealthy, just waiting to discover our wealth of life. I love life and all that it offers. Maybe that is why it is easy for me to smile and laugh.
Its paradoxical that living in more dense areas, we are forced to be closer to one another physically but remotely distant emotionally and spiritually. We tend to exist in that dehumanising manner, to stare into space, ignoring the people around us, pretending that they do not exist.
I take this opportunity to let the child in me often come out to play with associates and strangers in a friendly and harmless way.
I often smile at people waiting for or travelling in the lift/ elevator. or at strangers sitting in their cars and bikes stuck in traffic or at traffic signals. Here is what I discovered.
Most people and I connect for a few seconds and a smile grows on their faces, sometimes we exchange greetings, or even have a very brief conversation.
Probably being more relaxed, passengers tend to be more interactive than drivers.
Toddlers and young children are the most receptive and invariably smile back. They continue to gawk, smile and wave until we move out of sight.
Youngsters between 10 to 20 years of age are most reluctant to respond. They mostly look at me with the expression "I know people like you, who try to be friendly but are actually dangerous". This I attribute, to loss of innocence. They have been taught to or begun to learn on their own that the world is far from innocent and some adults cannot be trusted, particularly a friendly one.
Young adults and middle aged people are too preoccupied with themselves and the newly discovered pressures and challenges of pursuing their studies or careers.
They are often too lost to acknowledge the existence of humanity and life, beyond the immediate. They are mostly dismissive, because if you are being nice to them, you probably want something therefore you can and must be given the cold shoulder.
Politicians, government officials or people holding any position of authority, and people in expensive cars often pout have a scowl, or more appropriately that constipated look on their faces.
They invariably frown, and give me that look that says, "What in hell, is the matter with you?"
One wonders, 'If they have all that money, power or status, why do they appear unhappy?'
The elderly are glad that their existence is acknowledged. Sometimes they get confused but most often they beam a smile, and are most chatty.
It helps to remember that,
* A smile is a curve that straightens things out.
* A smile is the shortest distance between two hearts.
* It takes 6 muscles to smile and 120 muscles to frown.
* It is easy to conceal one's grief but impossible to hide one's joy.
I wonder, 'Do we smile because we are happy or because we smile we become happy?'
What difference does it make?
I am celebrating life, smiling and happy.