Many folks have asked me why is it that I look so happy in the recent years. Since Facebook is down for maintenance at the moment, I decided to jot stuff from the top of my head in answer to those questions.

For the sake of accuracy, I would like to say that happiness is very much dependent on circumstances. Whereas joy is being at peace and unperturbed even in dire or trying circumstances.

The ten points below would be my attempt to describe how to keep that bubbling brook of joy alive in your heart.

1. Venture out to the world more. This makes life exciting. Learn new things, grow!
2. Meet new people, make new friends. This keeps your social skills alive.
3. Don’t be afraid to say no when you need to. This will keep you from being stressed out, resentful and overwhelmed.
4. When you find someone special, do all you can to know them better. This will prevent the what-ifs and the what-should-have-beens. Regrets are the killjoys in life.
5. Hang out with folks who make you laugh and who wants the best for you. This will infuse more happy hormones into your system and that’s a good thing.
6. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Crappy things happen. If they are not monumental, they are not worth lugging around like extra baggages.
7. If you feel sad, cry alone or on the shoulder of a good friend. This is healthier than bottling it in.
8. Do the things you love. Better still, find a job that you are passionate about. Then it won’t be a job because it is your calling in life.
9. Give to those who need it. Be it contributing your time, expertise and/or money to a worthy cause, find ways to give regularly. This will impact someone’s life. And as you freely give, you shall receive so that you can continue to give. Haven’t you noticed – generous people are some of the happiest folks around!
10. Spend time with some very important People. Make time for reflection and communion with God. Count your blessings. And don’t forget to have moments of solitude so that you can collect your thoughts and hang out with your favourite person in the world – you :)

What do you do if you are given two days or two weeks or two years maximum to live? That was the question a very dear friend had to struggle with recently.

As someone who loves her, I couldn’t help feeling selfish and wallowing in denial. I want her around forever. I am not and won’t ever be ready to let her go.

My friend is made of sterner stuff and accepted the dire prognosis with her unique brand of bravery, gusto and humour. She is determined to make every moment count. To not put off meeting the important people in her life. To celebrate anything and everything worth celebrating. To know God more.

I couldn’t help but wonder what I would do if I were in her shoes. Life is fleeting and we never know when our last day on earth would be. Death comes upon us like a thief in the night.

And so, I learned to depart from my cautious self. To embrace life and the nice surprises that come my way. To take more chances. To say more yes than nos.

In the process I learned to laugh at myself for famous last words spoken. I remember declaring that I would never date someone with a certain nickname or profession, only to meet cuties that bear the very same traits almost the very next day.

And about two months ago, I declared that I would never take up diving and here I am now enrolled in an open water diver’s course. Who would have thought I’d love being underwater?

The point is, no one can be absolutely certain what lies ahead of us. What we can do is put on our best shoes and foot forward. And celebrate the life that has been given to us.

So there I was, chatting with my boss’ 7-year old kid who’s as cute as a button and intelligent to boot.  He has this way of saying things in a matter-of-fact way and is not out to impress anybody.  He had me wrapped up his thumb in no time at all.

We got to talking about the online world and he confessed that he lost his password to Gmail.

Me: Have you tried resetting it?

Him: Yeah, but it didn’t work.

Me: How long has it been since you had a Gmail account?

Him: Since I was 4.

Then he talked about how nice it was to be able to chat with his best friend over Skype every day.  His best friend is 6 years old.

Suddenly I felt really old.  And surreal.  I had my first e-mail account only in university days.  And for the life of me, I couldn’t recall what I did when I was 4.  Are kids growing up too fast these days?  Is this the dawning of a new age that I must get used to when I have kids of my own?

Shaking my head in both disbelief and amusement, I smiled at him. 

"Come, let’s take a photo together since you are so cute and all." He came willingly, a tolerant smile on his adorable pink-cheeked face.  "Has anyone told you that you are cute?" I asked as we posed for photos.

"No, not many actually," he said. 

I was aghast.  Didn’t the che-ches and aunties at church notice such a sweetie? 

Maybe their eyes need checking or something.