How to be happy: 'Creating favorites'

The language of flowers for the viola is 'little happiness'.

It is a flower that is often found
blooming quietly on the side of the road or in a corner of a garden.

It may not be big or flashy,
but finding one makes you feel a little happy.

Perhaps favorites
are unexpectedly things like that.

I believe that happiness
is not something born only from
great success or flashy events,
but something that grows
by increasing the things in your life
that make you think, 'I like this for some reason.'
Recently, I experienced Arita ware painting.

The time spent thinking about what kind of pattern

to draw on a pure white plate.
The moment I put the brush to it, feeling a little nervous.
Even the lines I couldn't draw as I intended
look strangely endearing when I see them later.

The finished vessel
is different from the perfect works lined up in a shop.

But,
the 'time I enjoyed myself'
was properly baked into it.

Favorites are not just
expensive things or things
that are praised by others.

Even if they are a little distorted
or clumsy,
things that hold your own feelings
will properly warm your heart.

People cannot be happy with efficiency alone.

A favorite mug.
Clothes you find yourself reaching for.
A path that makes you feel good just by walking on it.
A book you want to read over and over again.

Such 'little likes'
can sometimes support your heart.

The busier people get,
the more they start choosing things based on 'whether they are useful'.

But,
happiness is unexpectedly
hidden within 'it has no meaning, but I like it'.
Having favorites means

adding your own unique color
to your life.
What I felt while painting Arita ware was

the richness of 'engaging with it while enjoying it'
rather than making it well.
I think that not just the finished product,

but the time spent being absorbed in it
was already happiness.
Not to be recognized by someone else,

but to properly collect things
that make your own heart a little happy.
I think that creating favorites

means increasing the time and places
to 'be yourself' in your daily life.

And those times and places
will make you happy.

A book that influenced me in writing this article

Living carefully again today.

Carefully choosing the things you like,
and cultivating your daily life comfortably.

It is a book that teaches you
such 'little richness'.
Please take a look.

I have also summarized other flowers of 'how to be happy'
at the link below.
Please take as much as you need🍀

Thank you for reading until the end.
I hope to see you in another article.
🍀May you be happy🍀