Why I am a happy person

What makes a person happy? As a little child I was happy when I was sitting on my father’s lap sipping on the froth of his beer. A bit older I relished most caressing my little cat, strolling through the forests and meadows with the neighbours’ kids or playing theatre in front of our whole municipality. Then, our performances were actually events for the entire community because most of our neighbours didn’t possess a TV set.

Between ten and twenty I was fond of spending my leisure time with my friends. I fell in love for the first time and was quite sure to have met the man for my life. But fate decided otherwise and we were separated after a couple of years.

I met my later husband when I was twenty one. Or should I better say I realized him? He was a close friend of my cousin and he showed up ever now and then. Of course, I fell in love with him up to my eyes, maybe because he was a tax expert and I majored in business administration. After we got married our honeymoon lasted several years and I gave birth to our son Markus. I entered the business world when my son was four. The following years I was busy bringing up my child, being an acceptable mother and wife and doing my best at work.

When Markus was about twenty a slightly unpleasant period of my life began. I was faced with decease and death. Thank heavens there were people around me who gave me a hand when I was likely to lose the ground under feet. Although it was a difficult time, I gained two precious experiences.

Firstly, if you believe in yourself you can overcome every difficulty.
Secondly, look at the small things; they always brighten up your life.

Now, in the morning, when I leave my home for work, the sun is shining, my glance fall on dozens of flourishing pot plants on the stonewall in front of me and the day-children of my neighbour give me a warm welcome then I can say without the slightest doubt “I am a happy person”.