HAPPINESS QUOTIENT

‘Happiness….’ its mention brings joyfulness and exhilaration to all.  Happiness is believed to be a state of mind characterized by emotions associated with optimism, positivity, contentment and exhilaration.

A recent news report mentioned: “Nordics are always winning the happiness race. Finland took the top spot for the fifth year in a row, followed by Denmark, Switzerland, and Iceland.  People say it is  because they are small, homogenous, and wealthy.”

While it is fair enough to admit that people are happy when they are taken care off well by the governments, have substantial incomes, pensions, parental holidays, sound health care, unemployment benefits and maintenance for the ill and disabled, the other side of the argument is also valid - warmer temperatures and bright sunny days bring in greater happiness to people than long, dark and depressing winters.

Here is an interesting anecdote:

Little Laya was holidaying in India with her parents. While driving through the city roads, she watched young and older children playing under the glaring sun; they were scantily dressed, a little grimy too, however, their eyes were radiant.  Alongside them were patched-up tents, aluminum- utensils and brown-black mongrels. An elderly lady was resting on the pavement, with her head covered by a faded old cloth.  Laya’s  mom pointed out that they were poor people who lived on the pavement.  Almost at once, the four year old retorted – but they are all happy! 

Harmony amidst the chaos and uncertainties!

The fleeting scene exuded a picture of enjoyment for the little girl.  Enjoying with peers was an act of freedom and joy, which did not come easily in other countries. ‘Play dates’ were necessary, parents had to fix the dates with their friends’ in order that their children could spend time at the friend’s place.

Well, does luxurious living bring in happiness? Many of us can recall the film “Richie Rich” - the poor little rich boy who had everything except ‘companionship.’ And how jubilant he was at the end, reunited with his parents and in the company of his ‘humble’ friends with whom he had longed to play baseball at one time.

Happiness means different things to different people: to a fulfilled personality, it could imply sharing  a hearty meal with friends and family, to a materialist, happiness implies saving to fill the ‘proverbial’ seventh jar with half-filled gold.  By and large, people who have an optimistic view of life are generally happy, they have greater contentment and acceptance of challenges that life offers, even though doubts, apprehensions, feelings of loneliness and anger can haunt them occasionally.

Writers and lyricists wax eloquently about happiness.  Borrowing the lyric from  a renowned comedian and singer -

 

 “Happiness, happiness, the greatest gift that I possess

I thank the Lord I’ve been blessed

With more than my share of happiness…”

(also published in medium.com)

 

TULIP FESTIVAL AT SKAGIT VALLEY 

Holidaying in Bellevue, WA, each weekend is spent in driving to a scenic spot near or far. 'Festivals' always evoke joy and anticipation, and  'Tulips' evoked several nostalgic memories of the books read during chidhood.

The driveto Skagit Valley in the morning was about a hour and a half, the return took slightly longer as there was holiday traffic.

Although it was held in three-four places, our entire day was spent in the massive ‘Roozen Garde,’ one of the places that had organized the festival.  I wonder how the idea of the tulip festival was mooted ; the tulips and daffodils on the 350 and 450acres respectively were planted for crop rotation purposes, and due to this, the fields are different each year.   All credit to the visionary bulb grower who had migrated from the Netherlands to the United States decades ago along with a bunch of tulip bulbs to plant on his farm.

Just past the entrance stood a windmill, beneath which an assortment  colourful flowers swayed in front of the hordes of people. The sea of humanity stood dwarfed in front of the floral carpet that stretched endlessly.  The garden has about 750 acres of tulips and daffodils in an assortment of varieties and colors.

 

As far as the eyes could perceive was a mindboggling display of colors; there were millions of large tulips in red, yellow, white, peach, tangerine, pink, purple, scarlet, two-colored and multi-colored flowers. The distant snow-capped hills (the Cascades, I guess!) formed the ideal backdrop to the enchanting scene, straight out of a fairytale. What one witnessed in films was right in front of us – Unbelievable!

 

The ‘Tulip Festival’ evoked great curiosity, enthusiasm and excitement in me (my family), as it did to the thousand other people who walked past the orderly beauties exclaiming:  ‘Marvellous!’ ‘Breathtaking!’ ‘Astounding!’ ‘Brilliant!… Lovers locked in embrace, gaily attired children escorted by parents, energized photographers with backpacks clicked on endlessly; they just could not take off their eyes from the spectacular scene. Enthusiastic women and children were sashaying, at times, trampling upon or plucking a flower (and this kept the volunteers on their toes as they kept shooing all those who walked on the middle beds instead of the assigned pathways.) Young artists stood on a grassy path capturing the magnificence on a canvas.

 

The long walk was rejuvenating; it also brought in the hunger pangs.  The ubiquitous hotdogs, Kettle popcorn, burgers, chips, chocolate fudge, coffee and tea were available in the large makeshift kitchen stall ably managed by a group of young men and women. Adroitly, they catered to the hungry groups that lined up continuously. Food for the body invigorated our bodies and minds to walk on and soak in the magnificent scene once again.

 

I am left with utter poverty of words unable to describe the rapturous splendor - with the innocence of a child, I can say that watching millions of tulips flutter in the Spring sun was an exhilarating experience.  

 

The panoramic landscape will remain etched in the recess of the heart forever…