"السعادة ليست شيئًا تؤجله إلى المستقبل إنها شيئًا تصممه للحاضر"

Happiness is an elusive concept for many, often chased but rarely grasped. The essence of this idea is quite simple: happiness isn't a distant goal you keep pushing forward, it’s something you actively create in the here and now.

Think about it. How often have you caught yourself saying, “I’ll be happy when…?” Maybe when you finally get that promotion or buy your dream house. But the truth is, if you keep postponing happiness, you might never actually reach it. It's not a destination; it's a way of traveling.

This idea comes from a fundamental understanding that life is unpredictable and fleeting. Imagine waiting for a specific moment to be happy, and then something unexpected happens—like a global pandemic. Suddenly, all those plans and dreams are put on hold. The time you thought you had is now uncertain. This realization is what spurred many to understand the importance of finding joy in the present.

Take the real-life example of a friend of mine, Lisa. She always dreamed of traveling the world, but she kept delaying it because she was waiting to save up more money or find the perfect travel companion. Years went by, and she was still stuck in the same routine. Then one day, she decided to stop waiting. She started small—exploring nearby towns, taking weekend trips. Eventually, she saved up enough for a solo trip abroad. She discovered that the joy wasn't in the perfect trip but in the little adventures along the way, the people she met, the experiences she gathered.

So, how can you apply this wisdom to your own life? Start by focusing on the present. Look around you. What brings you joy right now? Is it a hobby you’ve neglected or a friend you haven’t seen in a while? Maybe it's just taking a moment to enjoy a cup of coffee without any distractions. The key is to identify these small pockets of happiness and savor them.

Here’s a bit of advice: make happiness a daily habit. It doesn’t have to be grand. Write down three things you’re grateful for each day. Or, spend a few minutes each morning setting a positive intention. These little practices can shift your mindset and help you design a more joyful present.

Imagine this scenario: You’ve had a long day at work, you’re exhausted, and you just want to collapse on the couch. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through your phone, you decide to take a moment to appreciate something small. Maybe it’s the way the sunset casts a golden glow through your window. Or the sound of your favorite song playing softly in the background. By consciously choosing to find joy in these little things, you’re not waiting for happiness to come someday—you’re creating it now.

In the end, it’s about mindset. By not deferring happiness to some vague future event, you take control of your own joy. You design your life in a way that includes happiness as part of the journey, not just the destination. And isn't that what life is all about? Embracing the here and now, finding beauty in the ordinary, and realizing that happiness is within your grasp—today, right this moment.