RuskinBond is the author of numerous novellas, short-story collections and non-fiction books, many of them classics. Among them are The Room on the Roof, AFlight ofPigeons,TheNight Train atDeoli,Time Stops at Shamli,LandourDays,Rain in the Mountains,A Book of Simple Living and Friends in Wild Places. HereceivedtheSahityaAkademiAwardin1993,thePadmaShriin1999andthePadmaBhushanin2014.HelivesinLandour,Mussoorie,withhisextendedfamily.

ALittleBookof

LastSaturday,whenIwasautographingbooksatthelocalbookshop,ayoungcollegestudentaskedme,‘Whatisthesecretofhappiness?’

AtfirstIcouldn’tthinkofananswer,excepttosay,‘It’snosecret.Happinessisrightnexttoyou’—withparticularreferencetotheprettygirlwhoaccompaniedhim.

But thinking about it now, I suppose happiness means different things to differentpeople.

Beena is happiest in her pooja room, or when she is on the phone talking to herchildren—SiddharthinNewDelhi,ShrishtiinBhubaneshwar,GautaminDehradun.

Rakeshishappybehindthewheelofhiscar;thelastplacewhereIwouldbehappy,havingoncedriventhroughagardenwallinFriendsColony,NewDelhi.

NoramIhappyonamotor-cycle,whichiswhereSiddharthlikestobehappy.Andyouwon’tfindmeintheBeautyParlour,frequentedbyShrishtiwhenshe’shomeonholiday.

Somepeoplearemiserablewhenit’srainingheavilyandtheycan’tgoshopping.I’mquitehappyonarainydaybecausethenIcancurluponasofa,visitBlandingsCastlewith P.G. Wodehouse, enjoy a village cricket match with Mr Pickwick and hisDickensianfriends,orgorowingontheThameswithJeromeK.Jerome’sthreemenandadog.Agoodbookonarainydayishappinessforme.

AsawriterIamalsohappywhenIhavecompletedastoryorpoemoressayandfeelpleasedwithit.Ontheotherhand,failedcreationsmakemeunhappyandIdon’tlikeleavinganythingunfinished.IfIamnothappywithsomethingIhavewritten,itgoesintothewaste-paperbasket.

Weallhavetodosomethinginlife,andifouroccupationorvocationorprofession

givesuspleasure,well,that’shappiness.

Sochoosewell,myfriend.Beforeyou launchouton the journeyof life,makesurethatthecareerorlifestylethatyouhavechosenissomethingthatyoureallywanttofollow.

Andmaysomeofthewordsinthislittlebookhelpyoutorealizeyourdreams.

RuskinBondApril,2016

‘Happinessisasgoodasfood.’—AnAfricanproverb

‘Onejoyscattersahundredgriefs.’

—Anonymous

Havingbumbledthrougheightyyearswithoutpermanent

injury,Iamnowiserthananoldcabbage!IonlyknowthatforthemostpartIhavefollowedinstinctratherthan

intelligence,andthishasresultedinamodicumofhappiness.Lifehasn’tbeenabedofroses.Andyet,quiteoften,I’vehadroses

outofseason.

Happinessisnotwaitingtobefound;there’snouselookingforit.Allweneedtodoistofind

thebarrierswithinourselvesthatwehavebuiltagainstit.Trust—inpeople,inlife—isagoodway

tobegin.

‘Whynotseizethepleasureatonce?Howoftenishappiness

destroyedbypreparation,foolishpreparation!’—JaneAusten

IcomeuponmyfriendPitamberdancingontheroadonenight.

‘Whyareyoudancinginthemiddleoftheroad?’Iask.

‘BecauseIamhappy,’hesays.‘Andwhyareyousohappy?’HelooksatmeasifIamafool.‘BecauseIamdancinginthemiddleoftheroad,’hesays.

Feelingdownandout?Liftupyourheadandshout—‘It’sa

greatday!’

Happinessisamatteroftemperamentratherthan

circumstance.Totakelifelightlyandingoodhumouristoget

themostoutofit.

Whetherbyaccidentordesign,wearehere.

Let’smakethemostofit,myfriend.

Makehappinessourpursuit,Spreadalittlesunshine

hereandthere.Enjoytheflowers,thebreeze,

Rivers,seaandsky,Mountainsandtallwavingtrees.Greetthechildrenpassingby,

Talktotheoldfolk,bekind,myfriend.

Holdonintimesofpainandstrife;

Untildeathcomes,allislife.

Happinessisaselusiveasabutterfly,andwemustneverpursueit.Ifwestayverystill,itmaycomeandsettleonourhand.Butonlybriefly.Wemustlearntosavourthemoment.

‘Wemustbewillingtoletgoofthelifewehaveplanned,soastohavethelifethatis

waitingforus.’—E.M.Forster

Expectgood,andgoodwillcome.

Tobehappy,youmusthave

compassion—notonlyfortheworld,butalsoforyourself.Andyoushouldknowthat

contentmentiseasiertoattainthanhappiness,andthat

itisenough.

Forallitshardshipsandcomplications,lifeissimple,andanaturethatdoesn’tsueforhappinessoftenreceivesitin

largemeasure.

‘Thatmanishappiestwholivesfromdaytodayandasksnomore,garneringthesimple

goodnessoflife.’—Euripides

‘Behappy.It’sonewayofbeingwise.’—Colette

‘Tobewithoutsomeofthethingsyouwantisan

indispensablepartofhappiness.’—BertrandRussell

Thefirstconditionofhappinessisthatamanmustfindjoy

inhiswork.

Ihaveyettomeetaneuroticcarpenterorstonemasonor

clay-workerormastercraftsmanofanykind.Thosewhofashionbeautifulthingswiththeirhandsareusuallywell-balancedpeople.

Thefeweryourdesires,thegreateryourhappiness.

‘Ifastrawcantickleaman,itisaninstrumentofhappiness.’

—JohnDryden

Thereisnohappinesswithoutlove.Andtofindloveyoudon’tgolookingforit;youonlyneedtoopenthedoorsandwindowstoyourheart.Andifthelovedoesnotlast,therewillbe

memoriestokeepyouwarmoncoldandgloomydays.

Thewindcarriesthemutedsoundofconversation,thehillsideringswithlaughter.

There’sacelebrationsomewhere.Fromadistance,thesearegoodsoundsonacoldandsilentnight.Thethoughtofhappypeopleintheneighbourhoodputsmeinagoodmood.

IntothewoodsonanOctoberafternoon.Ilieinthesun,onsweet-smellinggrass,andgazeupthroughapatternofoakleavesintoablindingblueheaven.AndIpraisegodfor

leavesandgrassandthesmellofthings—thesmellofmintand

bruisedclover—andthetouchofthings—thetouchofgrassandairandthesky’sblueness.

ThismorningIwasponderingontheabsenceofaphilosophyorreligiousoutlookinmy

make-up,andfeelingalittlelowbecauseitwascloudyanddarkoutside.ThenthecloudsbrokeupandthesuncameoutandalmostimmediatelyIfeltanupliftofspirit.Nophilosophywouldbeofusetoapersonsosusceptibletochangesinlightandshade.Nophilosophy

wouldbenecessary.

‘Thehappinessofyourlifedependsuponthequalityof

yourthoughts.’―MarcusAurelius

‘Ifyoudon’thavehornsyouarenotabull,andifyouarenot

warmandfriendlyyoucan’tbehappy.’

—ABhutaneseproverb

‘Allsufferingthereisintheworldcomesfromdesiringonlymyself

tobehappy.’—Shantideva

‘Somedayyouwillfindoutthatthereisfarmorehappinessinanother’shappinessthan

inyourown.’—HonorédeBalzac

Growagarden,orsomeleavesandflowersinoldtincansor

plasticbuckets.Watereachplanteverymorning,givingityourfullattention.Standbackandwatchthewatersparklingonleafandpetal,andyouarereadytoface

thestormiestofdays.

AmongtheTurksthereisasaying:Patienceattractshappiness;itbringsnear

thatwhichisfar.

AndamongtheMasaisthereisthisbelief:Happyishewhoseownfaultspreventhimfromcastigatingthefaultsofothers.

Ifwehaveneverbeenunhappy,howwillweknowwhen

happinesscomes?

Twothingsmakelifeworthliving:agoodjokeandagood

digestion.

Contemplatingthetinyladybirdonthewildrosegivesonehopethatthereismoretolifethan

interestrates,dividends,marketforcesandinfinitetechnology.

Thereisspaceforthebigandthesmall;thereisspaceforyouand

meandtheladybird.

‘Whenthefirstbabylaughedfor

thefirsttime,thelaughbrokeintoathousandpiecesandtheyallwentskippingabout,andthatwasthebeginningoffairies.’

—J.M.Barrie

‘Don’tletonecloudobliteratethewholesky.’—AnaïsNin

IfIamfitenoughtogambol,Imustgambol.Whyshouldit

matterthatIamold?Theworldislikeacheerlessheadmaster,alwaystellingyoutobehave.Itlikestoputyouinabox,butyoumustneverletitsucceed.Theinsideofabox

isnotahappyplace.

Imaynothavecontributedanythingtowardstheprogressofcivilization,butneitherhaveIrobbedtheworldofanything.Eventhespideronthewalliswelcometohisspace.Afterall,hegivesmemine,andwe

arebothatpeace.

‘Happinessiswhenwhatyou

think,whatyousayandwhatyoudoareinharmony.’—MahatmaGandhi

‘Happinessistheonlygood,reasontheonlytorch,justicetheonlyworship,humanitytheonlyreligionandlovetheonlypriest.’

—RobertG.Ingersoll

‘Thoseborntowealth,andwhohavethemeansofgratifying

everywish,knownotwhatistherealhappinessoflife,

justasthosewhohavebeentossedonthestormywatersoftheoceanonafewfrailplankscanalonerealizetheblessings

offairweather.’―AlexandreDumas

‘Lifeworksuponacompensatingbalance,andthehappinesswegaininonedirectionweloseinanother.Asourmeansincrease,sodoourdesires;andweeverstandmidwaybetweenthetwo.Whenweresideinanattic,weenjoyasupperoffriedfishandstout.Whenweoccupythefirstfloor,ittakesanelaboratedinnerattheContinentaltogiveusthesameamountofsatisfaction.’

—JeromeK.Jerome

Alocalracketeer,whohasbeeninjailacoupleoftimes,meetsmeontheroadandcomplimentsmebecauseI’m‘alwayssmiling’.

Ithinkbetterofhimfortheobservation.

Ifyoucansmilewhenyoufeelhurt,thehurtishalfcured.

Happinessisnottheoppositeofsorrow.Theyco-exist;inthatacceptancewetakethefirststep

towardsinnerpeace.

‘Happinessalwayslingerswithunhappiness.Theyaretwosidesofthesamecoin.Whenthewholecoindropsfromyourhandyouareneitherhappy

norunhappy.’—Osho

‘Don’tcrybecauseit’sover,smilebecauseithappened.’

―DrSeuss

Wehaveasmuchrighttocryaswehavetolaugh.Mengiventotearsaregoodmen,goesanold

Greeksaying.

Ifatortoisecouldrun,Andlossesbewon,

Andbulliesbebutteredontoast;Ifasongbroughtashower,Andagungrewaflower,Thisworldwouldbebetter

thanmost.

‘Ifeltmylungsinflatewiththeonrushofscenery—air,mountains,trees,people.Ithought,“Thisiswhatit

istobehappy.”’―SylviaPlath

Oneoflife’sgreatestpleasuresisfree.Itliesinwatchingaplantgrow—fromseedtoseedling,to

greenbranchtobough,toflowertofruit.

‘Havingagreatintellectisnopathtobeinghappy.’—StephenFry

‘Laughteristhelanguageofthesoul.’

—PabloNeruda

Liveclosetonatureandyourspiritwillnotbeeasilybroken,foryoulearnsomethingof

patienceandresilience.Youwillnotgrowrestless,andyouwill

neverfeellonely.

Amynahbirdalightsonthewindowsill,deliversashortspeech,waitsformetonod

myapprovalandtakesoff.Mybirthdaygiftinadvance.

Lastnight,asIlaysleeplessInthesummerdark

Withwindowopentoinviteabreeze,

SoftlyafireflyflewinAndcircledroundtheroomTwinklingatmefromfloor

orceiling,Lightinguplittlespaces—

Afriendlypresence,dispellingThesettledgloomofan

unhappyday.

‘Neverdespair.’—Horace

Neverbelievethosewhotellyouthattherearenosecond

beginningsinlife.Everydayisachancetostartafresh.Veryoften,allsatisfactionandachievement

isintheeffort.

Thewhistlingthrushishere,bathingintherainwaterpuddle

beneathmywindow.Hisblue-blackwingsglitterinthesunshine.Helovesthisspot.Sonow,whenthereisnorain,Ifillthepuddlewithwater,justsomyfavouritebirdkeepscoming.

‘Foreveryminuteyouareangryyoulosesixtyseconds

ofhappiness.’―RalphWaldoEmerson

Threemantrasofhappiness:

Thinkofoldfriends.Makenewfriends.

Becomeyourownbestfriend.

‘Asurewaytolosehappiness,I’vefound,istowantitattheexpenseofeverythingelse.’

—BetteDavis

‘Donotanticipatetrouble,orworryaboutwhatmayneverhappen.Keepinthesunlight.’

—BenjaminFranklin

‘Ifyouwanttobehappy,be.’—LeoTolstoy

Happinessdoesnotarrivewithfireworks.Itsettlesinquietly,longbeforeyourecognizeit.Andsometimesitisgone

beforeyoudo.

‘Peoplewhodreamwhentheysleepatnightknowofaspecialkindofhappinesswhichtheworldofthedayholdsnot,aplacidecstasyandeaseof

heartthatarelikehoneyonthetongue.Theyalsoknow

thattherealgloryofdreamsliesintheiratmosphereof

unlimitedfreedom.’—KarenBlixen

Ifwehavetheeyestosee,andearstolisten,theworldisneverwithoutthingstosoothethe

heart.Eachdaythereisbirdsongandmoonlight,flowersandoldfamiliars,foodtosatisfyourhungerandwatertoquench

ourthirst.

Ilikeasausage,Ido;It’sadishforthechosenandfew.Oh,forasausageandmash,Andofmustardadash,

Andaneggnicelyfried—maybetwo?

‘Learntoletgo.Thatisthekeytohappiness.’

—ABuddhistteaching

‘Itismorefittingforamantolaughatlifethantolamentoverit.’

—Seneca

‘Thereisonlyonewaytohappinessandthatistocease

worryingaboutthingswhicharebeyondthepowerofourwill.’

―Epictetus

‘Happinessisagiftandthetrickisnottoexpectit,buttodelight

initwhenitcomes.’—CharlesDickens

‘Whenwearehappy,wearealwaysgood,butwhenwearegood,wearenotalwayshappy.’

―OscarWilde

Alifeofconstantvirtue,likealifeofconstantvice,canonly

endinmisery.

Don’tbedepressedbyyoursurroundings.Thatpebbleat

yourfeethasasmuchbeautyasanygreatworkofart.

Idon’thavetoclimbtheEiffelTowertoseeacityspreadoutbeforeme.EverynightIseethelightsoftheDoontwinklinginthevalleybelow;eachnightisa

festiveoccasion.

Somepeoplechoosetosail

aroundtheworldinsmallboats.Othersremainintheirownsmallpatch,yetseetheworldina

grainofsand.

‘Happinessisnotahorse,youcannotharnessit.’—ARussianproverb

Listentothenightwindinthetrees,

Listentothesummergrasssinging;

Listentothetimethat’strippingby,

Andthedawndewfalling.Listentothemoonasit

climbsthesky,Listentothepebbleshumming;

Listentothemistinthetremblingleaves,

Andthesilencecalling.

‘Happinessisnevergrand.’—AldousHuxley

‘Thetruesecretofhappinesslies

intakingagenuineinterestinallthedetailsofdailylife.’

—WilliamMorris

‘Godblesstheinventorofsleep,thecloakthatcoversall

men’sthoughts.’—Cervantes

Apillowcanmakeallthedifferencetoone’slife.Sleep

withthewrongpillowandyou’llwakeupanangryman.Theright

pillow,andyouwakeupahappyman.

Andhere’sagemfromabookofBhutanesewisdom:‘Donotchirruptoomuchaboutyour

happiness,anddonotwhinetoomuchaboutyourunhappiness.’

Whichmakesmethink:happinesssharedisanactof

compassion;happinessflaunted,anactofviolence.

‘Ishalltaketheheart.Forbrainsdonotmakeonehappy,and

happinessisthebestthingintheworld.’

―L.FrankBaum

‘Wealllookforhappiness,butwithoutknowingwheretofindit:likedrunkardswholookfortheirhouse,knowingdimlythat

theyhaveone.’―Voltaire

Loveisasmysteriousashappiness—notellingwhenit

mayvisitus;whenitwilllookinatthedoorandwalkon,orcome

inanddecidetostay.Maybothloveandhappinessenteryourlife,dearreader,

anddecidetostay.

Formostpeoplelonelinessiswronglylinkedtounhappiness.Theirmindsarenotdeepenough

toappreciatethesweetnessandbalmofsolitude.

‘Ofallthemeanstoinsurehappinessthroughoutthe

wholeoflife,byfarthemostimportantisthe

acquisitionoffriends.’―Epicurus

Asinlife,soinart:onlyconnect.Ihavealwaysbelievedthatto

communicateandbereadableisallthatawritershouldaimfor.Forawriter—asforanyartist,whetherapainteroracomedian—therecanbeno

greaterjoythanthisconnection.

‘Thecrowningfortuneofamanistobeborntosomepursuitwhichfindshimemploymentandhappiness,whetheritbeto

makebaskets,orbroadswords,orcanals,or

statues,orsongs.’―RalphWaldoEmerson

Howmanydreamsmighthavebecomehappyrealitiesbutforthatterriblesentence,‘Toomuch

trouble!’

‘Oneswallowdoesnotmakeasummer,neitherdoesonefine

day.Similarly,onedayorabrieftimeofhappinessdoesnotmake

apersonentirelyhappy.’

ThusspokeAristotle.Butbrieftimesofhappinesscanbe

sufficientgiftsforalifetime.Nooneisentirelyhappyforalltime.

‘Happinesswhenyouaremiserable:

ToplantJapanesepoppieswithcornflowersandmignonette,

andbedoutthepetuniasamongthesweet-peassothattheyshallperfumeeachother.Toseesweet-peascomingup.

TodrinkverygoodteaoutofathinWorcestercup

ofacolourbetweenapricotandpinkshell…’—RumerGodden

‘I,notevents,havethepowertomakemehappyorunhappytoday.Icanchoosewhichitshallbe.Yesterdayisdead,tomorrowhasn’tarrivedyet.Ihavejustone

day,today,andI’mgoingtobehappyinit.’―GrouchoMarx

‘Allofman’smiseriesstemfromhisinabilitytositquietlyin

aroomalone.’—BlaisePascal

‘Whyshouldwebuildourhappinessontheopinionsofothers,whenwecanfinditin

ourownhearts?’―Jean-JacquesRousseau

Tobeabletolaughandtobeabletocare—justthismuchwill

ensureagoodlife.

‘Wehavenomorerighttoconsumehappinesswithoutproducingitthantoconsumewealthwithoutproducingit.’―GeorgeBernardShaw

‘Onlythedevelopmentofcompassionandunderstandingforotherscanbringusthetranquilityandhappiness

weallseek.’―DalaiLamaXIV

‘Ifeltoncemorehowsimpleandfrugalathingishappiness:aglassofwine,aroastchestnut,awretchedlittlebrazier,thesound

ofthesea.Nothingelse.’―NikosKazantzakis

‘Happiness.Itcomesonunexpectedly.Andgoesbeyond,

really,anyearlymorningtalkaboutit.’

―RaymondCarver

‘Godgaveusourfaces,’saidGranny,‘wegiveourselves

ourexpressions.’

Grannyagain:‘Lifemaybeshort,butasmileisonlya

second’seffort.’

Thepastisanothercountry,someonehassaid,anditisgoodtogothereonavisitonceinawhile.ItisthesmallthingsIremembermostvividlyfrommypast.Theycometomelikepiecesofcinema-colouredslidesslippingacrossthescreenof

memory,bringingmesolace,andsometimesasmiletomylips.

‘Thedayreturnsandbringsusthepettyroundofirritatingconcernsandduties.Helpus

playtheman,helpustoperformthemwithlaughterand

kindfaces.’—RobertLouisStevenson

‘Thesecretofhappinessisnotindoingwhatonelikes,butin

likingwhatonedoes.’―J.M.Barrie

‘Myflute,M.Poirot,ismyoldestcompanion.Wheneverythingelsefails,musicremains.’

—AgathaChristie

‘Mycatisselfish,smugandungrateful.Thenshejumpsonto

mylapandpurrs,askingtobeloved,andI’mhappy.’

—TalulaK.

Ifyouowenothing,youarerich.Moneydoesn’tmake

peoplehappy.Butneitherdoespoverty.Justenoughtobeyourownperson,andtolendahelpinghand—thatmuchwouldbethe

best,Isuppose.

‘Ahotsunandahotwindblowing;Igohomeand

Iamhappy.’—AnItalianproverb

‘Thesecretofhappinessistofindacongenialmonotony.’

—V.S.Pritchett

Ifyouhavetheability,orratherthegift,ofbeingabletosee

beautyinsmallthings,thenlifeholdsfewterrors.

Acherrytreeboweddownbythenight’srainsuddenlyrightsitself,flingingpelletsofcoolwaterinmyface.This,too,ishappiness.

ThereisaflowerImeetonmywalkdowntothebazaarthesedays.IthassprungoutofaplasticmuginMrsD’slittle

balconyandisalwaysnoddinganddancinginthebreeze.

Itisahappyflower,deservingofahappy,lightname.IhavenameditMerryHeart,andsealedourfriendship.

AsI’vegrownolder,I’vestoppedfrettingtoomuch.Ilaugh

atmyselfmoreoften;Idon’tlaughatothers.Ilivelife

atmyownpace.AndIamcontent.

‘Forsomeofus,happinesscomeswhilewesleep.’

—AFrenchproverb

Slowdown,thereisn’talwaysatraintocatch.Makeyourwalkaslongandleisurelyaspossible,

andyouwillfindthattheworldyouthoughtuglyisfull

oflovelylittlesurprises.

ForaslongasIcanremember,Ihavebeenthehappiesttakingapath—anyoldpathwilldo—andfollowingituntilitleadsmetoaforestgladeorvillageorstreamor

hilltop,orafaceIlongtosee.

Theadventureisnotinarriving,it’sintheon-the-wayexperience.Itisnotintheexpected;it’sinthesurprise.Youarenot

choosingwhatyoushallseeintheworld,butgivingtheworldanevenchancetoseeyou,

togettoknowyouand,perhaps,showyoujustthethingsyou

hadlongedtoseebutcouldneverfind.

Turnyourattentiontothesky,lookattheever-changingcloudpatternsfromyourwindow.Thereisnoendtotheshapesmadebytheclouds,ortothe

storiestheysetoffinyourhead.Wedon’thavetocircletheworld

inordertofindbeautyandfulfilment.

IrememberthemousewhosharedmyroominLondon

whenIwasseventeenandallonmyown.Hewasasmartlittlemouseandsometimeshewouldspeaktome—sharplittlesqueaks

toremindmeitwasdinnertime.TheroomwasnolongerasemptyandlonelyaswhenIhad

firstmovedin.

‘Thosewhobringsunshineintothelivesofotherscannotkeepit

fromthemselves.’—J.M.Barrie

Childrenbringmejoy.SometimesIthinksmallchildrenaretheonlysacredthingsleftonthisearth.Childrenandflowers.

Helpastrangerindistress,doitwhenthereisnothingthatrequiresyoutodoso,andyouwillfindyouarelighter,happier.Andmaybeonedayastrangerwillextendahandwhenyoustumble,andonceagainyouwillfindhappinesswhenyou

leastexpectit.

Sometimes,whenallelsefails,asenseofhumourcomestotherescue.Laughatyourself,laugh

atfate,andsoldieron.

Byallmeansobservetheconventions,butrememberthatitisonlyinpersonal

independencethathappinessistobefound.Stayfree!

‘Happiness…isnotsomethingthatcanbedemandedfromlife,andifyouarenothappyyouhadbetterstopworryingaboutitand

seewhattreasuresyoucanpluckfromyourownbrandofunhappiness.’

—RobertsonDavies

‘Makeupyourmindtobehappy.Learntofindpleasurein

simplethings.’—RobertLouisStevenson

Whatifyoufailedyesterday?Todayisnotyesterday.

Nothingcomparestothejoyofhard-wonsuccess.Nothingissweeterthanvictoryattheendofmanydefeats.

Eventhemostuninvitingandunromanticplaceswillsurprise

youwithsmallmiracles:moonlightonquietalleyspastmidnight.Orthescentof

quenchedearthandfallenneemleavesafterthefirstrains.Orthehappyriotoftheweeklybazaar.

Hewhohashappychildrenisgreaterthanaking.

Andhewhospreadshappinessoutsidehishomeisgreaterstill.

Ifonedayyoushouldloseallyourmoney,whoknows—youmaybecomeahappyyogi!(Ifnot,makepeacewith

yourmisery.)

‘Sometimesyourjoyisthesourceofyoursmile,butsometimesyoursmilecanbethesource

ofyourjoy.’—ThichNhatHanh

‘Happinessisahow,notawhat.Atalent,notanobject.’—HermannHesse

Liferarelyplaysbytherules.Beforeyousay,‘WhatdidIdotodeservesuchmisfortune!’

thinkofallthetimesyoufoundhappinesswhenyouhaddone

littletodeserveit.

Letuslearnfromthehumblemarigold.Therosemaybethequeenofflowers,andthe

jasminetheprincessoffragrance,butthemarigoldholdsitsownthroughsheersturdiness,colourandcheerfulness,brighteningupwinterdays,oftenwhenthereis

littleelseinbloom.

‘Wemusttrytomaketheendofthejourneybetterthanthebeginning,aslongaswearejourneying;butwhenwecometotheend,wemustbehappy

andcontent.’—Epicurus

‘Thestormisover,thereissunlightinmyheart.’—P.G.Wodehouse

AsayoungmanIplantedaseed.InoldageIreaptherewards:awildcherrytreecoveredwithpalepinkblossoms,andalittle

yellowsunbird,emittingasqueakylittlesong,flittingfrom

branchtobranch.

‘Ifyouwantahappyending,itjustdependsonwhereyou

closethebook!’―OrsonWelles

Dearreader,mayyouhavethewisdomtobesimple,andthe

humourtobehappy.

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TableofContentsAbouttheAuthorTitlePageBookInformationIntroductionChapter1Chapter2Chapter3Chapter4Chapter5Chapter6Chapter7Chapter8Chapter9Chapter10Chapter11Chapter12Chapter13CopyrightEndPageBackCover