How to be happy: 'Just coincidentally happy'

The flower in the top image is a 'Begonia'.
Its flower language is 'happy days'.

It is a plant that blooms with vibrant flowers for a long period.

It is a flower that colors not just special days,
but also our casual, everyday lives.

The other day,
I was playing a pretend battle with my son.

I was playing the hero.

My son was sometimes the villain,
sometimes the king,
and he would change roles midway through.

I don't really understand the fine details of the setup.

Anyway, having defeated the villain,
I was to receive a reward from the king.

What was handed to me
was a jewel made of LEGOs.

The king said,

'I am most grateful for this happiness.'

I was the one who received the reward,
but for some reason, the king was the one saying thank you. Haha.

Including that part,
it's all part of playing pretend with a child.

But at that moment,
I suddenly thought.

Grateful (Arigatai).

Written in kanji,
it is 'Arigatai' (having difficulty existing).

It means something that is hard to have.
Something that rarely happens.
Something like a miracle.

That is what it apparently means.

The time I spend playing with my child like this right now
might also be something 'arigatai' (a rare blessing).

Having a child.
Running around energetically.
And me being able to play along with them.

Everything,
while it seems like it should be taken for granted,
is not something to be taken for granted.

There are times when I think
I became happy through my own efforts.

But when I think about it,
who I meet.
Where I am born.
What kind of family I have.

Most of that cannot be decided by myself.

It is just by chance.

I just happen to be
on the happy side right now.

When I think that way,
I feel a little more humble.

The Begonia's flower language is
'happy days'.

Happiness,
rather than great success,
might be those kinds of days, like being happy to receive a LEGO jewel.
By the way, that jewel

was a very precious reward from the king, so
it was confiscated. How unreasonable.
It was a grateful happiness.

Books that influenced me in writing this article

'Luck is Inherited' by橘玲 (Rei Tachibana)

We want to think that life is determined by effort.

However, factors we cannot choose ourselves, such as our innate personality, abilities, and family environment, also have a major influence.

Reading this book makes me feel that it is difficult to explain everything—success, failure, happiness, and unhappiness—solely through one's own power.

That is precisely why this was a book that helped me accept the happiness I have now as a rare blessing, rather than taking it for granted.
I highly recommend it.

I have also compiled other 'How to be happy' flowers
in the link below.
Please take as many as you need 🍀

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