I am aware that this work is copyrighted, so in all hopes that the publishers will take into account that I made attempts at referencing, I will not get my ass sued off.

Everyone knows how I adore Coelho’s writing and how beautifully poetic and timeless I think it is (and how he has a marvellous translator).

One such excerpt from his book ‘Like the Flowing River: Thoughts and Reflections’ (2006:117, HarperCollins Publishers) is this:  “Every human being has the right to search for ‘happiness’, and by ‘happiness’ it is meant something that makes that individual feel content, not necessarily something that makes other people feel content”.

Something so simple, yet possibly hard to really properly fathom, no?

Happiness is elusive.

I blogged a whole long post about me, me, me but it sounded too much like whingeing so I deleted it. Just giving you nice folks out there some food for thought, and a reminder that the happiness of one person (i.e. you), does not come at the cost of the happiness of someone else nor deplete in supply.

I wonder why some of us are so afraid of being happy, and treat it with such cynicism? Thinking that ‘this is too good to be true, so it must be’, and willing whatever it was that made us so joyful die a premature death. Thinking there’s gotta be a catch (well, save for the case of my mother). Pessimism kills.

Elaboration on my mother thing–the latest stunt she’s pulled is the announcement that she wants to buy me a car. Uhh, ok. Riiiiight.

Now before you slam me, calling me stupid, ungrateful, etc—know that with this mother of mine, there’s always a catch. Before you argue, lemme ask you, who’s lived with her for 21 years? Not you right?:P And sure enough there is a catch—my soul.

To a lesser extent, but my soul nontheless.

It pains me.

More than you know.

******

The Urges are back. I. Need. To. Shop.