It’s 10:11 at night and I’m not in bed. I am actually in the gym and it is back day. The gym is very empty because not many know that the hours have recently changed back to being 24/7. It’d been a long day and although I was feeling tired, I had to get a workout in because I always run my mouth to people about not ever missing a Monday workout as it dictates the course of the week. 

Did I mention the gym was very empty? Oh yes, I did. In between my workouts, I’d look around the gym to see who was still keeping me company and what they were doing. I’m one to pick a few new workouts based on what others are doing. Anyway, the few people left were doing cardio. As I went about my business, I remembered when I used to play college soccer, going to practice every weekday at 5pm and weekends at 7am, traveling to different schools to play, and just enjoying the beautiful game. This little moment I had got me thinking about happiness. What exactly is it? How does one define happiness? Is it generic or does everyone feel and experience it differently?

I believe we all experience happiness in our small unique ways. For example, I am a huge fan of ‘Mbalax’, a Senegalese type of music, but people say I’m weird for liking it. I don’t mind because there’s something about it that really sweets me, so please allow me to increase the volume. Another scenario is refusing to be forced into an arranged marriage that you very well know you won’t be happy in. Whether it is sports, music, a hobby, there’s always something that triggers happiness within us all. What is yours?

We live in a world where people are afraid of doing their own thing because they’re scared of being judged or being left out (FOMO). No! It should not be like that. The world is all there is, and life is to be lived. God gave us our lives to live and we ought to do the things that make us happy, the things we enjoy and love, and it doesn’t matter if you’re the only one doing it. Don’t go right because everyone is going right. If the outcome of going right doesn’t suit you, be brave and turn left. Your happiness is yours! 

The ugliest truth sometimes is, it’s the people around you that either take advantage of you or lead you down the wrong path. It might be hard to accept, but take a look around you and think about everything that has ever happened in your life up until this point. Not everything will make sense and not everyone is who they claim to be. I believe Niki Lauda said it best; “a wise man learns more from his enemies than a fool from his friends.”

In the end, whenever you’re in a situation where you feel uncomfortable, regardless of who you’re with, your friends, people you trust, your best option is to leave. Do what makes you happy, and go where you want, because that’s where the “sun shines brightest”.