Active Happiness

Since life is worth recording, happiness is also worth recording. As the title of this essay suggests, I'm going to obtain "active happiness". This may be the first time that you've heard of this expression. For me, it's also the first time. It suddenly occurred to me several hours ago that I should try to be happy more actively, and then I got the name of "active happiness". This means I have to do something in order to be actively happy. So I've decided to open up a new column called My Happy Log which is designed to record happiness -- happy moments, happy memories, happy stories, happy dreams, happy thoughts ... -- all happy things -- no matter how big they are. I'm sure this will work for me. Just wait and see what'll happen to me in the following weeks:)

P.S. Provided that you are interested, click on the following link (I'm just doing what it has guided me to do) :

http://www.mifengtd.cn/articles/seek-a-happy-story-today-activity.html

Belong

After reading my friend Ernest's latest blog, I come to consider the same question: where do I belong? Maybe you'll suppose that I belong to a certain group, a certain organization, a certain class, a certain school or even a certain society. However, I don't think so. My answer to the question is:

I belong to myself.

So, no matter who you are, you have no privilege to rob me of my happiness.

I've made the second step.

"Hey, Koala, I'm gonna play basketball with Vincent after class this afternoon, will you join us?" Clive asked. "OK!" I answered without the slightest hesitation. But soon after I accepted his invitation, I began to worry: would I be qualified for a good team member? After all, I almost had no foundation of playing basketball, though I was 1.86m in height. And now I was about to face my first university 3-on-3 game. I was a little bit timid and even scared. In my mind, basketball was a sport of a little bit rudeness. Chances are that I was going to encounter some rude ones. But since I'd been dreaming of changing and developing myself and being a good basketball player, I was determined to have a try.

...

As I had got no proper sports wear, Clive offered to lend me his sports vest and Vincent his sports shorts. You know what? I was dressed as if I was a professional basketball player! To be frank, never had I been dressed so "professionally"!

...

"Can we join you?" Vincent asked. "All of you are so tall!" "But he's not good at it." Vincent said, pointing at me. "Yes, I'm only a beginner." I said. "OK." There're 9 persons in all that could precisely divided into 3 groups. Vincent and I were in the same group. As the game went on, I gradually got into shape. But it was quite evident that I was a faked "professional" player. I'd got no talent for playing basketball! I made countless attempts to shoot, but in vain. I made countless attempts to defend, but still in vain. I was even knocked down. In a word, I was totally inexperienced. I'd got no idea how to shoot and defend effectively and efficiently. To my relief, I eventually made several successful shots, though all by chance....

"When I was a beginner, I was like you." Clive said, "But what was different was that I started from practicing shooting. As long as I had a chance, I would shoot." Step by step, I was sure that I would realize my dream. Don't you think so?

It finally proved to be a right choice. I successfully challenged myself. I successfully made the second step. What about a step further?

Mood

The mood is like the unpredictable cloud and the mysterious wind. You can never know where it goes. Nor can you find its trace.

Maybe I'm just being too sensitive. It seems that I'm not yet a completely independent one. My mood never belongs to my own. Every time I see something, hear of something or just think of something, chances are that my mood will start to change. I've got no idea in which direction it is going. What's more, a matter of very tiny importance will put me in a bad mood. I don't know what's wrong with me. I find myself a man of moods and sometimes of sentimentality. That's not what I would like to be.

Then what would you like to be? Well, my goal is to form an independent personality, to be in control of my own mood and protect it from being affected by any negative factors. I know it's hard, but I'll try. As a matter of fact, seeing from another angle, I shouldn't have been so sensitive. Sometimes, how you feel utterly depends on how much emphasis you put. If you put too much emphasis on something or somebody, you are finding troubles your own. I'm just an example. Therefore, if I try to think little, I'll definitely feel at ease.

I've made the first step.

Several days ago, I was still wondering whether I would be able to qualify for the character "Prince" in the English play Mulan Joined the Army. Today, I got the answer. It's "yes"! I have the ability! It proved to be a successful play. Our English teacher was quite satisfied with our play and spoke highly of our performance. She said, "You all have a gift for acting." Needless to say, I was fairly delighted to hear that. You need to know that we've spent lots of time and energy preparing for the presentation. For me, it's no easy thing, as I was chosen to be the group leader. I searched the Internet for an idea and eventually I found the script of Mulan Joined the Army and the corresponding video as well, which made me fairly surprised. I watched the video and could not help but to laugh. Finally, I was determined to act it out. I adapted the original script referring to the video, allocated roles, made a couple of "crown"s, recorded a couple of audio clips, made the PPT, organized several rehearsals... Tired as I was, I was willing to. To my relief, my group members were all for the play. I couldn't imagine what the situation would be like without their support.

You also need to know that it took me quite a long time to take heart of grace to act it out. In the past, it was definitely impossible for me to act so naturally, heart and soul. I still remember those times when I was on the platform, rather ashamed and embarrassed. I used to assume that I was not qualified for acting, but it has been proved that I was wrong. As long as you unlock your inner potential, you'll find that not everything is so difficult as you thought. As long as you're willing to try, you will succeed. I'm just an example.

I've made the first step. What about a step further?

It's time for me to challenge myself!

Come on! I CAN!