As i sat down to reflect on my day, I realized that it had been an emotional roller coaster ride. My day had started with a jolt when a passenger passed out on the train. He had suffered a heart attack. Later he returned to consciousness, and ambulance was on it's way. I was able to finish my sudoku puzzle on the bus. People on the bus were very charming and cordial to each other. The morning meetings had been productive. As usual, my co-workers had been great to me. There was even a celebration for someone who graduated from a leadership training program. Everyone was smiling, there was food and fun, balloons and decorations. I even got to talk to the people I had not seen for days.

One of  the supervisors of a smaller division of the cardiology department had completed the Leadership program, and his employees had thrown a party for him.. I got invited at the last minute, so all I could get were chips and Doritos from the canteen-- but that was enough. I was told, all that matters is a thought. I was so happy----------what a great day. It is so nice that everyone is celebrating their co worker's achievement. It felt great to join in their celebrations, until I stepped out of the room and noticed a young lady pass by, a sadness across her face. She had not been invited to the party! But why? She is part of their department- and he is as much her boss as everyone elses'. I invited her but she gracefully declined. And then I remembered, she had just been nominated for a prestigious award for her work-and since then a lot of people had turned against her. The nomination had earned her more grief than joy. It made me wonder about the human psychology. On one hand the boss completes a Leadership program--- and he gets celebrated, but if a peer got nominated for an award then she gets their hostility? Why couldn't she be celebrated? I wonder what makes people hostile towards their peers? Does our jealousy, pettiness, and rudeness make us happy?

In my experience happiness  grows out of loving, caring, and being generous to others. Celebrating the successes of those around us (be at home or work)should make us happy. Happiness multiplies when it is shared, and it makes our friendship circle much larger. The good will receiver feels happy because they can share their success with others, and the giver experiences happiness by making someone happy. The jealousy and pettiness make people small, and reap unhappiness within. Real happiness comes out of giving & sharing, not just receiving.

So the real secret to happiness I believe is to celebrate the successes of everyone around you. In addition, one day when you are nominated for an award-- you will not feel lonely and abandoned, because you will have people to celebrate your happiness with you.