*To enhance the reading experience of this post, I recommend you hit the play button above before beginning.
*Update: actually, don’t hit the play button if on your phone, this does not enhance but rather detracts from the experience.
Years ago, my sister asked me, “How is it that you are happy all the time?” And I’ve been ruminating on this question ever since.
First, I am not happy all the time. Second, I gave her a rudimentary response at the time — and now, after years of digesting the question, I think I’m ready to take a crack at providing more of an answer. So here we is.
I think happiness is a product of all the things that I do and the decisions I make on a daily basis. I don’t wake up and choose happy, and the times that I have tried, I was rarely successful. Instead, I just wake up happy, and this I believe, is a product of a good night of sleep, that was preceded by a good day of exercise, fresh air and sunlight, eating nutrient dense food, nurturing relationships, and possibly treating myself to a good espresso drink. Even if I do nail all of these tings, I might still wake up unhappy. And that’s exactly what happened to me the other day.
I woke up and just felt grumpy. I didn’t want to start my day and I didn’t want to go to work. I tried to think of a valid reason to maybe call in sick, or at least call in late. But no excuses came to mind, or more likely, my discipline took over and I proceeded to do my morning ritual: take my blood pressure and then my HRV (explanation in a future post), and do my morning mobility routine — btw, all of this happens while still laying on my bed! The rest of my morning routine was easy because it was a fasting day for me, no need to figure out breakfast. I hopped on my single speed commuter, a bike so beautiful that it consistently brings me joy when I see it, and made my two-mile commute to work. The sun was out and the air warmer than usual, which made wearing shorts (and showing off my legs 🤌🏾) with a wide collar, short-sleeved shirt with green toucans permissible. The outfit was spot on and I thought to myself, she cute.
Once I arrived at school, I continued my morning ritual, this time, putting my favorite chai mix in my favorite yellow mug, with a bit of colostrum powder. I grabbed my concoction and walked up the hill of my lovely school campus — it really is beautiful —to the faculty kitchen. Along the way, I said hi to a couple of students and joked briefly with one colleague. Once I arrived at the faculty room, I saw the coffee pot and decided to make it a “dirty” chai that morning, IYKYK. Dirty chai in hand, I made my way back down the campus to get ready for my first class. Along the way, I saw Athena, one of my students sitting per usual at her spot, and I proceeded with our ritual of saying hi and having a brief check-in before the first bell. As I walked away, I felt happy.
I think this is how happiness works.
*Update: just reread this post and no, this is not satire.
And currently, happiness is a product of listening to the accompanying song of this post. Music is such a wonderful ting, especially if you live by yourself. It occupies space. IYKYK.
Wait, why is music better if you live by yourself? (This Peach Pit song sounds *very good* even living with someone else.)
I'm also a sucker for a good routine and the little tings. Last night we talked about a related question: "Which expense in your life delivers the least happiness per dollar and which delivers the most happiness per dollar?" And we agreed, it's the little things that enhance our daily routine.
It took years of persistent practice for Iris to properly pronounce dirty chai. And now, rightfully, she is very proud.