What Is Happiness?

What is happiness? This article was written on July 5, 2013, by Lü Jianfeng. Today an old friend asked me, 'You're always smiling and running around alone. Are you happy?' He asked this after reminding me that I'm 36 and asking when I plan to get married. I stammered that being alone feels fine for now. Indeed, am I happy? While washing up just now, I thought about it and asked myself. I actually researched the word 'happiness' around 2000 and even gained some insights. I remember going to the library to look up materials, and later I came up with a conclusion on my own. Happiness is a persistent feeling of psychological pleasure, evolved from physical pleasure. We know that in the primitive era, there were no words, but reproduction was not much different from now. People felt particularly good during intercourse, and later the concept of sex emerged, and 'sexual happiness' meant feeling good. As for how it became 'happiness,' it was probably because 'sex' was not considered elegant, and pleasure was not entirely about sex; often it was a fortunate sense of joy. Over time, 'sexual happiness' evolved into 'happiness.' But I've digressed again. What is happiness? The most memorable explanation I have is from the movie 'Please Praise Me' (Qiu Qiu Ni Biao Yang Wo), starring Fan Wei. I can't remember the protagonist's name, so I'll use the actor's name. Fan Wei, to fulfill his father's wish, pestered journalist Wang Zhiwen to praise him in the newspaper. Wang asked why, and Fan Wei said that if he did, he would be very happy. Wang then asked him if he knew what happiness was, and Fan Wei began to explain. Fan Wei said: 'When I'm hungry, and I see someone holding a meat bun, then he is happier than me; when I'm cold, and I see someone wearing a thick cotton coat, he is happier than me; when I need to use the toilet and there's only one stall, and you're squatting there, then you are happier than me.' I often experience Fan Wei's kind of happiness. Others usually eat only half a bowl of rice, but I eat two bowls, so I have the happiness of eating. At this hour, I haven't gone to bed because I don't need to get up early tomorrow; I am happier than those who have to get up early for work. Is this kind of happiness real happiness? According to my old friend's view, happiness is living a steady life, doing what is appropriate for your age. At my age, happiness means having a house, a wife, children, healthy parents, and a high income. That is indeed a happy life. I admit that if I could start over, I would definitely choose such a life. But life has no 'ifs'! Huizi said, 'You are not the fish; how do you know the fish's joy?' Zhuangzi replied, 'You are not me; how do you know I don't know the fish's joy?' Your current life is the result of your own choices. I strongly agree with this. Every choice we make is based on our own evaluation and what we thought was right at the time. I stubbornly believe that being able to choose and persist in your choice is a form of happiness. Perhaps many years later, I will be alone, poor and weak, living miserably, and dying. That will be my life. Such a life does not necessarily lack happiness. Good night, happiness! On the night of July 20, watching the sea in Kunming.