The ball rolled through the immaculate blades of grass. Each tiny leaf resembled the beauty of a freshly cut diamond. Small speckles of water dripped on the green rug disappearing into the thick layer of moist soil supporting the playing field. There in the middle of the field a pair of black boots stopped the ball on its track. Leaving it motionless for less than a second and with the flick of a boot of it went again to the back of the net. I spun around in joy, after hours of practice I had scored the goal I dreamed about. I closed my eyes, and immediately I traveled from my garden to Stamford Bridge. It was a dream come true. I had reached happiness. Then as I slowly opened my eyes, I started thinking what is it that makes me happy? Is it scoring a goal in a world cup final? Alternatively, being among friends? It is not one or the other; it is a combination of everything.
As humans, we expect happiness to come naturally and with no problem and often we forget how hard being happy is. If happiness were that simple, then people would not commit suicide or fights would not occur. Happiness is hard to achieve and although studies show that some of it are already set genetically in our minds there are several aspects of our lives that we can modify to be happier and, therefore, lead a greater life. By being amongst friends and creating healthy relationships, we are liberating ourselves and allowing our brain to be free. To be happy, you need your friends, freedom, and thought. Although, several other factors can come into the equation those three for me are the most important.
I compared my life to that of great philosophers and how they lived great lives. Because after all having a great life means being happy. I realized that to be happy I need four simple things that can let you down easily and change your mood quickly: friends, family, soccer and freedom. I am someone who actually enjoys the company of friends and knowing that they will be there for me no matter what. My friends are the ones who make me realize that I am free. As they say “friends are the family you get to choose” and that is precisely why they mean so much to me. My friends are the ones who met me as the type of person I am and decided to stick with me because they enjoyed my company. These friends of mine remind me of the freedom I enjoy and how valuable it is to my happiness. Freedom is a crucial element in my happiness as I know I am free to make my choices (whom I hang out with, date, etc.) and don’t depend on anyone else to make them for me. If I want to be alone or in company, it is up to me, and that is why freedom is so crucial. Having mood changes is something very common for me yet, knowing every action I take is my choice allows me to go back to being happy as I can decide and do what I need to go back to happiness. Then we go to family and the role they play in my life. As with every family in the world, the words fully functional don't exist in mine. However, it is that unpredictability that makes my family so important to my happiness. Yes, we may fight and want to kill each other but at the end of the day, we live under the same roof and depend on one another to survive. I might enjoy my independence and be lonely, but that is only because I know in a matter of hours or days my brothers will be back to torture me along with my mother. Finally soccer. The beautiful game for me is a weird emotion. I breathe and live football. However, when training and playing the word happy isn't near my mind at all. That occurs because soccer is my representation fo what it means to live a great and happy life. There will be no pleasure without pain and sacrifice, and that is what soccer represents. When I train, I am tired and just want to finish. When I play, I get angry when things do not go according to plan. However, I enjoy it non-stop and wouldn't give it up for anything else. It is a weird feeling to portray in words as what I feel can’t be explained.
In other words, my life would not be a happy one if it were not for my friends, family, freedom, and soccer. Making me realize how those “hippies” as I thought of philosophers before the unit started were completely right. I now understand what makes me happy and how to use it to allow me to live a better life all around.
As humans, we expect happiness to come naturally and with no problem and often we forget how hard being happy is. If happiness were that simple, then people would not commit suicide or fights would not occur. Happiness is hard to achieve and although studies show that some of it are already set genetically in our minds there are several aspects of our lives that we can modify to be happier and, therefore, lead a greater life. By being amongst friends and creating healthy relationships, we are liberating ourselves and allowing our brain to be free. To be happy, you need your friends, freedom, and thought. Although, several other factors can come into the equation those three for me are the most important.
I compared my life to that of great philosophers and how they lived great lives. Because after all having a great life means being happy. I realized that to be happy I need four simple things that can let you down easily and change your mood quickly: friends, family, soccer and freedom. I am someone who actually enjoys the company of friends and knowing that they will be there for me no matter what. My friends are the ones who make me realize that I am free. As they say “friends are the family you get to choose” and that is precisely why they mean so much to me. My friends are the ones who met me as the type of person I am and decided to stick with me because they enjoyed my company. These friends of mine remind me of the freedom I enjoy and how valuable it is to my happiness. Freedom is a crucial element in my happiness as I know I am free to make my choices (whom I hang out with, date, etc.) and don’t depend on anyone else to make them for me. If I want to be alone or in company, it is up to me, and that is why freedom is so crucial. Having mood changes is something very common for me yet, knowing every action I take is my choice allows me to go back to being happy as I can decide and do what I need to go back to happiness. Then we go to family and the role they play in my life. As with every family in the world, the words fully functional don't exist in mine. However, it is that unpredictability that makes my family so important to my happiness. Yes, we may fight and want to kill each other but at the end of the day, we live under the same roof and depend on one another to survive. I might enjoy my independence and be lonely, but that is only because I know in a matter of hours or days my brothers will be back to torture me along with my mother. Finally soccer. The beautiful game for me is a weird emotion. I breathe and live football. However, when training and playing the word happy isn't near my mind at all. That occurs because soccer is my representation fo what it means to live a great and happy life. There will be no pleasure without pain and sacrifice, and that is what soccer represents. When I train, I am tired and just want to finish. When I play, I get angry when things do not go according to plan. However, I enjoy it non-stop and wouldn't give it up for anything else. It is a weird feeling to portray in words as what I feel can’t be explained.
In other words, my life would not be a happy one if it were not for my friends, family, freedom, and soccer. Making me realize how those “hippies” as I thought of philosophers before the unit started were completely right. I now understand what makes me happy and how to use it to allow me to live a better life all around.