You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore, before you decide to be happy.
A few weeks ago, my childhood friends from Nashik (my hometown) called me and asked, “What are you doing today?”.
I said, “nothing much, the usual stuff”. And these guys asked me to join them for a “Leadership Retreat” (I am using corporate jargon here) – otherwise you (the readers) would say, “This is an Instagram post”. And, No! I am not on Instagram.
After their call, I drove for 5 hours to a beautiful place near Nashik. Nothing planned, just there after a call from my amigos! And then the rest is history. A memory that I will cherish down memory lane until my last breath
By the way, my childhood friends are a bunch of FREE BIRDS. Most of them are not on LinkedIn, cause free birds can’t be on LinkedIn 😉 and telling stories like I am doing now. Free birds share their stories in-person.
After coming back from Nashik, I thought – Every morning, it’s the same story, isn’t it? The alarm rings, and the race begins. The bhagam-bhaag of getting ready, navigating traffic (Yes! These days I live in Pune!), finishing our work, and managing home. We are all running, chasing something. We tell ourselves, “Let me just finish this one big project, then I’ll relax.” Or, “Once I get that promotion (a dream in the corporate world), I’ll be happy.” Or maybe, “When the kids are finally settled, I’ll have time for myself.”
We are all waiting for a “someday” when life will be perfect. A day with no tension, no deadlines, and no problems. But there’s a simple, powerful truth we often forget:
*If you don’t know Jane Marczewski, please Google.
This single line holds the key to a more joyful life. It reminds us that waiting for a perfect, problem-free future is like waiting for a train that will never arrive. The challenges will never completely disappear; they just change form. The beauty of life isn’t in avoiding the struggles, but in learning to smile and find meaning right in the middle of them.
The ‘Someday I’ll Be Happy’ Trap
In our culture, we are taught to work hard and build a secure future. This is a good thing! But it often turns into a dangerous trap where we are constantly sacrificing today’s peace for a “happy” tomorrow that never seems to come.
Think about it. First, it was “I’ll be happy after my 12th board exams.” Then it was “after I get into a good college.” Then, “after I get a job.” Then, the story goes on and on …
The Magic of Small Joys and Gratitude
So, if happiness isn’t in the big achievements, where is it? It’s hidden in the small, everyday moments we usually ignore.
Life isn’t a grand Bollywood movie. Its a collection of these small, simple scenes. Happiness comes from learning to notice and appreciate them. This practice is called gratitude. Its not a complicated pooja or ritual; it’s a simple shift in your thinking. Before you sleep tonight, just try to think of one small thing that went well today or one thing you are thankful for. It could be anything!
Doing this every day slowly trains your brain to find the positive, even on the most difficult days.
Happiness is a Daily Choice, Not a Final Destination
In the end, happiness isn’t a trophy you win after a long struggle. It’s not a destination like Shimla or Goa that you reach after a journey. It is the journey itself. It’s a choice you have the power to make every single day.
So, let’s stop waiting. Let’s give ourselves permission to be happy today, right now, with all our imperfections and ongoing struggles. Let’s find joy in the chaos, find balance in the hustle, and find moments of peace in our busy lives. Because the present moment is not a practice run for the future—it is life itself.
In the end, happiness leads to success—not the other way around.