Deriving joy from little things in life

Deriving joy from the little things in life


As varied as individuals and families are, so are those happy moments that they hold dear. What makes one event memorable for one individual may not necessarily be the same for another. For some, that defining moment may be as simple as a smile early in the morning, a hug from a friend, the birth of a baby, a new car, or something as simple as a greeting card.
But as stressful as family and work lives are, especially when the global financial crisis is added to the mix, is it really possible to derive happiness from anything? A cross section of the public in the know tell it like it is.

“Every morning, I give my wife and children hugs before leaving for work. I feel that pure joy each morning and that sets me off for the day. And anytime I feel exhausted, angry, confused, or disturbed, immediately I get home, my youngest son is always the one running through the door to greet me. That immediately lifts my heart. It has been therapeutic for me over the years, my remedy for bad times.”
John Imola, businessman and father of four

“There is lots of fun in town, but I truly derive much pleasure from just being by myself in a sparsely populated countryside, such as my home town in Ondo State . I get to see the natural beauty you can’t capture in town: the mountains, rivers, water falls, and birds singing. All this makes me very happy and fulfilled. You can’t capture such rare moments, they’re simply unforgettable!”
Tony Duke, banker


“I have had many happy moments in my life with my great family; parents, brothers, sisters. Some of them are long gone now (dead), but the moments we shared together will always remain with me forever, ever lingering and bringing smiles to my face when I’m down or unhappy.”
Aisha Dimka, marketer and mother of two

“Anywhere I am - at work, in the car, home - I just love listening to my music. Another one is going for a ride in the car with no destination, seeing old friends, and visiting places with fond memories from my childhood. I value those things highly.”
Anita Amaka, advert practitioner

“Being happy and making others feel happy is the most divine thing on earth. That’s why I really appreciate happiness. I’m most happy when I’m teaching too; every moment for me is cherished. You can’t ever take it back. My students are happy to learn from me, and they tell me the class is always vibrant, like we are in heaven. This gives me much pleasure and fulfilment, and I believe if you make others happy, you are rendering service to God Almighty.”
Paul Emeka, pastor and father of three

“Seeing a set of twins really made my heart swell for joy and I still have that feeling each time I see them. Interestingly, I had them as I was turning 40 years of age, and five years later I’m yet to have another. So that has been the greatest delight in my life so far!”
Bolatito Badmus, housewife

“Simple things as going out sightseeing, window shopping, eating ice cream in the park, playing in the rain and spending time with my family are cherished moments. Those are the things that really matter in life, doing fun things and spending time with the people you love.”
Morenike Amao, student

“Whenever I get into a melancholy mood, I write positive letters to myself in form of poems, and that lifts me completely from such a mood. I spend a good time writing poems about how I feel everyday, moment and hour. Any time I feel low, writing and reading my selected poems becomes my ‘happy moment.’ It has helped me through tough times and makes me more confident about myself and the obstacles in my life.”
Daniel Ofurum, marketer

Taking time to appreciate positive and simple things happening in our daily lives can help boost our overall satisfaction and ability to cope with tough times.
True happiness is as simple as focusing on the small moments and cultivating positive emotions everywhere we go. All it takes is the decision to grace every difficulty with a smile!