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The shiny big car stopped beside Ahmid's stall. A man dressed in
designer clothes and shoes got out and
ordered a bowl of cendol. Ahmid expertly shaved some ice into a plastic
bowl and poured syrup and coconut milk over it. He handed it to the customer
with a cheerful smile and thanked him for the payment. After finishing the
dessert, the man asked Ahmid, 'How's business?' Ahmid replied that business was
slow because it was the rainy season. 'Then why are you so happy?' asked the
man. With a wide smile, Ahmid said, `I'm happy because I'm alive and well.'
'But you might earn very little money today. How can you smile like that?'
Ahmid's smile widened, 'It's all right. When I think of my family waiting for
me, I'm happy.'
The rich man replied sadly, 'I wish I could find happiness like you.' With a
sigh, he got into his car and drove away.
Like the rich man, everyone seems to be searching for happiness. They try to
find it through their achievements, material possessions, friends and
entertainment. Some look for it by taking drugs and getting involved in crime.
But truly, the secret to happiness lies in the cendol seller's reply.
If you enjoy each moment and each day as it comes, you will be happy. Focus
on the present. The past is over, so do not dwell on
what might have been. Tomorrow is yet to be so there is no point worrying
ahead of time. You are alive. Be thankful and enjoy the day. Smile often.
Ahmid the cendol seller did not have much money but he was
contented with what he had. If he compared
himself to his customer who dressed so well and drove a luxury car, he would be
unhappy. So another secret to happiness is not to make money your goal in life
if you want happiness. Those who think that having more money will make them
happy will find that money is never enough. They look at what they have and they
desire more. They focus all their time and energy in gathering wealth and they
never enjoy what they have. How can they be happy then?
The other secret to happiness Ahmid shared with his customer is to treasure
relationships. Knowing that you are important to someone will make you feel
happy. You should invest time to build and strengthen relationships with family
members and close friends if you want happiness. If you neglect the people in
your life, you will end up sad and lonely even if you were to become a great
success.
Happiness is not as difficult to find as some people think. All you need to
do is to be thankful for and to enjoy the present, to avoid making money the top
priority in life, and to treasure relationships. |
