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It’s the funny,heart-to-heart conversations that make us happy

I asked my 8 year old son, “Frame 3 sentences quickly about your mother as a person.”

This was his answer:
1.     Amma is a good cooker.
2.    Amma is beautiful.
3.    Amma works at.....

Look at it from a language perspective and you know that the first sentence is not correctly framed. 

But you also know one thing: it is straight from the heart. He meant 'good cook' and I burst into laughter because 'Amma is a good cooker' reminds me of my 2015 resolution: eat less, exercise more!



Of the three sentences, the first one made me smile. 
                                                   
It’s no different in our interactions with others. It’s not the “perfect comments/conversations” we recall. It’s the flawed, funny, heart-to-heart ones that stick like glue to the heart. 

Like J Krishnamurti says: Happiness is not a remembrance, it is that state which comes into being  ever new, never continuous. Happiness is in transformation, not in acquisition. 

As the year comes to an end, I'd like to know: What made you happy? What made you smile?

Comments

Vishnu said…
Touching post.

Also, eat less, exercise more sounds like a good plan for the new year:) I'm planning to do so!

At the end of the year, I found happiness in spending time with family and friends - celebrating just being alive and the moments we had together.
@Yours truly: Thank you! Me too:))

@Kochu: Thanks doc! Happy to see you drop a line here!

@Anu: Love to hear from you!

@Vishnu: I like the "eat less, exercise more" bit! Also happiness in spending time with family and friends - celebrating just being alive - yup, I can so relate to that!
@Yours truly: Thank you! Me too:))

@Kochu: Thanks doc! Happy to see you drop a line here!

@Anu: Love to hear from you!

@Vishnu: I like the "eat less, exercise more" bit! Also happiness in spending time with family and friends - celebrating just being alive - yup, I can so relate to that!

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