Finding happiness in the little or not so little things
My point is, both unexpected and little things can make you happy and when they do, embrace them, even if they're fleeting. Don’t feel guilty in this worry-laden world. You don’t have to wait untill..
Gbedu Pick
The song of the week is “Happiness” by Sarz ft Gunna Asake, so go listen immediately after reading this post.
Idan’s Musing:
AceOluwapelumi: If you're happy, savor the moment and enjoy the feeling.
After more than six months of managing with just one bulb (technically, a pop socket), I finally had the second pop light in my kitchen replaced yesterday afternoon. I’d put it off due to procrastination and lack of motivation. When it was finally replaced, the sun was shining, so I couldn’t quite see how well-lit the kitchen actually was. Later in the evening, upon returning home after taking a stroll to Alex’s house, I went into the kitchen drink water, switched on the lights, and—boom—everywhere was bright. It had been so long since I’d seen the kitchen that well-lit, and it genuinely made me smile. It’s a small thing, but in that moment, it made me happy. It reminded me of a line from my poem Happiness: “Find happiness, it’s also in the little things you overlook.” I’m pretty sure I didn’t think a light bulb would make me smile when I wrote it, but I’m glad it did.
Another, not-so-little thing that’s been making me smile lately is the soundbar I got a couple of months ago. When I moved to Lagos over a year ago, a soundbar was among the top five things I wanted to buy. But thanks to “Sapa” and this economy, I just couldn’t make it happen. In fact, I ended up clearing everything off the whiteboard in my office because the list of things to get was starting to get to me.
Anyway, towards the end of September, Alex and I went to Fouani’s store to buy something, and there it was—a 200W soundbar, my dream soundbar. We had to test it before paying, and I was so excited. But honestly, disappointment doesn’t even cover what we felt. Fifteen months of waiting for this? The bass was nearly non-existent. There were two other models, both more expensive than what I’d budgeted, but they looked like they’d actually be worth the price. The 300W and the 500W soundbars seemed more promising. We figured we’d skip testing the 300W model, assuming the 500W would obviously be better. Oddly, though, the 300W was more expensive and came with a better subwoofer. We tested both; the 500W was decent but still not quite what I wanted—it was good for the price, but something was missing. When we tried the 300W, though—more than double what I had on me but ridiculously better than both combined—I knew I was about to go into debt. One way or another, that soundbar was coming home with me. Judge me if you want, but I had to make calls to borrow money to buy a soundbar—in this economy! Yes, I drank the garri, but guys, it was worth it. On a general note, when it comes to buying things, I’d rather wait months or even years to get something that I want when I can finally afford it than settle for something because of money. I hate regrets.
I’ve picked up a few things this year, like a Keychron keyboard and the Xbox Series X—two gadgets I’d wanted to buy since 2021—but nothing has made me as happy as the soundbar. Maybe it’s because I love music so much, I don’t know. All I know is that every time I listen to it, I feel almost as happy as I did the day I bought it. My friends who have been to my place since then can tell you how excited I am; everyone has to feel the gbedu when they come over.
My point is, both unexpected and little things can make you happy, and when they do, embrace them, even if they’re fleeting. Don’t feel guilty in this worry-laden world. You don’t have to wait until you land the new job or until your wedding day to smile. Every day might contain things that could make you sad, but it also comes with moments that can make you smile. Find happiness, my friends; it’s also in the little things we overlook.
I hope this makes you see things a bit differently.
See you soon, friends. Until then, make yourself happy, it’s on you.
Ace.