Hey friends, let's talk about happiness!
Now, before you roll your eyes and mutter, "Oh great, another self-help spiel," hear me out. I'm not here to tell you to meditate for three hours a day, drink kale smoothies, or journal your feelings into oblivion (unless, of course, you love doing those things — then by all means, carry on!). I’m here to remind you that happiness is a choice. A cheeky, rebellious, go-against-the-grain choice that we get to make every single day.
You see, happiness isn’t some magical unicorn that blesses a chosen few while the rest of us fumble through life with a permanently grumpy expression. No, happiness is a conscious decision. A decision to look at life through a slightly more optimistic (and sometimes ridiculous) lens. So, let me break it down!
Our Thoughts Shape Our Reality
Ever had one of those days where you stub your toe in the morning, spill tea on your favourite top, and then decide that the entire day is ruined? Yeah, me too. But here’s the thing — when we focus on the bad stuff, it expands like a giant, unwelcome balloon. Before we know it, that stubbed toe has turned into a full-blown "my life is a mess" meltdown.
On the flip side, if we consciously choose to focus on the good — like the fact that we have ten working toes, a steaming cuppa, and maybe even someone who loves us despite our tendency to trip over air — we shift our perspective. Suddenly, life isn’t so grim anymore and the rest of the day turns out fabulous!
Happiness isn’t about pretending everything is perfect (because, let’s face it, it never is). It’s about choosing to see the good that does exist and letting that take up more space in our minds than the bad.
We Can Control Our Reactions
Life is a bit of a rollercoaster, we all know this, I mention it quite often and all of us have been through the good, the bad and the ugly! Sometimes thrilling, sometimes terrifying, and occasionally making us question why we got on the ride in the first place. The one thing we can control, is our reaction to it.
Let’s say you’re caught in the rain without an umbrella. You can either:
A) Curse the heavens, the weather forecast, and every raindrop in existence.
B) Channel your inner Gene Kelly and have a spontaneous (albeit damp) dance party.
Option A might be tempting, but option B will probably leave you feeling a lot lighter. And hey, bonus points if you make a stranger smile in the process.
Choosing to react positively doesn’t mean ignoring reality or pretending things don’t go wrong — it just means deciding not to let those things define our entire experience. It’s about choosing resilience over despair, laughter over frustration, and, when necessary, a good old-fashioned deep breath over an unnecessary tantrum.
We Can Cultivate Happiness
Here’s the fun part — happiness is a skill. Yep, just like learning to juggle, bake a half-decent cake, or master the art of winged eyeliner, happiness takes practice. 
Think about the things that genuinely bring you joy. It doesn’t have to be anything grand. It could be the smell of fresh bread, dancing in your kitchen, or watching dogs enthusiastically living their best lives at the park. Whatever it is, do more of that.
And if you’re not sure what makes you happy anymore? (Hey, it happens to the best of us.) Experiment! Try new things, revisit old hobbies, and give yourself permission to play. The more we intentionally seek out joy, the more natural it becomes.
For me, happiness is spending time with my amazing friends, kids, mum, brother, niece, my sister-in-law. We have fun, we laugh, and we annoy each other. It’s all part of the game.
When was the last time you had a good belly laugh, the kind that makes your sides hurt or—let’s be honest—makes you pee a little? (Lol, don’t pretend it hasn’t happened to you!) Those moments, those uncontrollable giggles that leave you gasping for air, are what life is all about.
Happiness Is Not a Destination
Ah, the biggest myth of them all — thinking happiness is something we arrive at, like a tropical holiday with guaranteed sunshine and endless margaritas. Wouldn’t that be lovely? But alas, happiness isn’t a place, and it certainly isn’t something we can schedule for next Tuesday at 3 PM.
Happiness is found in the in-between moments. In the random giggles, the kind gestures, the times we let go of stress just long enough to feel alive.
That said, I am now considering a happiness-themed retreat where we all laugh, have fun, and maybe get a foot rub or two. Stay tuned.
Finding Happiness in London
One of the reasons I moved to Canada was that it had proper seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter. They overlap, and sometimes, yes, I had to wear something from each season because it started off with summer, then ended up with a snowstorm in the middle of July (and yes, it’s happened). But overall, it’s consistent.
Now, I’m back in London, and I’ve been miserable because all I have seen are grey clouds, rain, drizzle, and dampness that gets to my bones — and it’s awful. I’ve done nothing but complain about it.
So, today, I’m taking my own advice and choosing to look at the positives. In five hours, I can drive to Scotland or jet off to a remote Greek island. I love high tea, and England has plenty of those. I don’t need a car because public transport can get me almost anywhere. And most importantly, my besties live here (though I have some amazing friends in Cambridge, Ontario, they know who they are!).
The only thing I really still don’t like? A wet dog. But I’ll bite the bullet and think about all the wonderful things Samosa and I can do together. Maybe I’ll design a fabulous collection of raincoats for her. She’ll be more stylish than me, but you get the gist.
So, my challenge now is to find even more reasons to embrace London life. I could grumble and moan, or I could get out there, explore, and create new, happy memories.
The Final Word
So, my fabulous friends, I challenge you to choose happiness today. Not in a forced, “I must be happy at all costs” kind of way, but in a gentle, playful, “let’s see how much joy I can squeeze out of today” kind of way.
Let’s focus on the good, react positively to the bad, and cultivate happiness like it’s the hottest new trend. Because if we’re going to be here anyway, we might as well enjoy the ride. ❤️
