Always Do What Makes You Happy

“So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” – Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom

It is not always easy to choose what you love doing over what you need be doing. Say you love writing, reading traveling, but you to earn money, save, pay bills. Those who love their jobs are lucky, but what about those who want more than the four corners of their office?

I’m not complaining about my life or anything. I like my job just fine, it pays not really much but it helps me with my finances. I get to save a bit; I get to enjoy it as well. But juggling between my office hours, and my part time writing job, maintaining my social life, and of course family quality time, I tend not to do what I really love doing myself.

There are few things I love doing the most namely reading, dancing, writing, traveling and getting involved. I still get to read, although lately I’ve been too distracted and tired.  This is actually the longest I’ve gone without reading (1 month). The last time I danced was probably 3 years ago, and the same goes for the last time I’ve been involved with an organization. It was only a month ago when I got back into writing and I was so overwhelmed because writing has brought back so much happiness in my life. This made me realize that I should keep doing the things that make my heart happy, in order to have a happy life.

So from then on, I decided to keep writing despite the busy schedule that I have and it is actually working out fine. One night I realized why I have let myself go so long without doing the things I’m passionate about. The thing is, though, I have always been planning to do this but I never really took a step towards it. I don’t know what got into me, but yesterday I called one of the dancing studios I used dance with and inquired about their weekend workshop classes. I have been planning to enroll for over a year now, but it was just yesterday that I took the step. All I was thinking was, maybe it’s time to go back to my first love: dancing. I am actually feeling so excited and giddy about dancing again. It is something I have always loved and I am now wondering why I ever stopped. Then today, I was applying for a freelance position for another website when I decided to update my curriculum vitae. It still amazes me how I managed to be part of numbers of organization when I was still in college, considering I was studying full time. Being part of those organizations was the best part of my college life. I feel like I’ve learned more important lessons from my experiences in those organizations than in the classroom lessons I had. For the past few years, I’ve planned a couple times to volunteer for organizations but I never had chance or the drive to do so, until today. I just realized how much I missed doing it, and I felt really incomplete. So, I made a call with this organization that holds events every Saturday morning, and I felt nothing but pure delight. I’ve missed doing this and the idea of being able to do it again brings me so much happiness and fulfillment. I just really hope that the step that I just took will lead me back to the things I love doing the most.

Why am I sharing this?

I wanted to share this because I want people to realize that nothing should stop you from doing the things that you love. No matter how busy life gets always remember that in order to be truly happy we should be doing something that makes us happy. Happiness isn’t something we just get by sitting in our office chairs, or by just waiting for it to come one day. We have to do our part in order to achieve that happiness. We often forget what should really matter in our lives, and honestly life is too short to dwell on the wrong things. We should always remember that the things we love the most should always be our priority – family, love, friends and our passions in life. I’m not saying quit your corporate job, I’m just saying: find a room in your life for the things that should matter more. Let’s not be corrupted by the idea that being successful is equivalent to high pay checks. You will be surprised how successful and fulfilled you will feel if you will find time to do something that you are truly passionate about. Keep doing the things you need to do to survive life, but never forget the things you love. Try something new; start from somewhere; explore your horizons. Let us not waste the time and energy we have for nothing. We owe it to ourselves to do what makes us happy. Whatever it is: writing, reading, sports, eating, studying, surfing, drawing, or singing. Whatever it is, always go back to what you love doing the most.