The happiness project

Happiness is such an abstract thing, or so you’d think. From a bar of chocolate to a good book, shopping to a mini vacation, there are different things that make different people happy. We set out to figure just what makes people happy and talked to a few known faces about the things or acts that make them feel good about themselves, if not on top of the world.

Dancing with loved ones
Reema Bishwokarma, Actor

I’m happy when I’m with the people I love. And I’m even happier if I get to dance with them. I’m not shy about expressing my emotions like that, and recently at my own wedding, I didn’t shy away from dancing. They say that a bride should be shy, well mannered, and maintain a certain decorum, but I don’t think so. I started dancing and my family and friends joined in and I had a great time, so much so that I forgot it was my wedding. In fact in all occasions, formal or otherwise, if I can I indulge in dancing. I don’t have a particular style of dancing so I just go with the flow, and I daresay that it has made some really good times possible.

Movies and friends
Ram Babu Gurung, Director

There’s something about watching movies with your friends that I can’t quite describe. Pair it up with a couple of drinks, a cup of tea or coffee, and I will be the happiest man in the world. I usually go to watch movies with my buddies and we have a good time. I like watching family dramas, action movies, comedies, and mixes of all of that. I usually am careful of noting the acting, the attitude of the actors, their performances, and so forth. Of course things are different when we watch movies at home. There are no restrictions and we don’t shy away from teasing or making fun of something, even if it’s just a movie.

Walking and a hot cup of tea
Srijana Adhikari, Theatre Artist

I love to travel, whether that means taking long routes like to Pokhara or Bandipur, or to the chowk near my home. I developed this habit a long time back. Back then I used to get angry real quick and took a long time to cool down. So to help with the process, I started taking long walks around the city. I found that it did a lot of good. Going around the city and observing people and the daily happenings left me happy and calm. I’d go to different places and whenever I felt tired, find a teashop and sit down for a cup of tea or two. I occasionally listen to songs while I walk, but mostly, the surroundings keep me happy and occupied. Once, I got tired of walking and took a micro bus to Narayanthan. It was raining heavily. Halfway there, I found out that it was a micro for Narayantar and I had to come back and take another vehicle. I’ve been careful about it since, but it doesn’t make walking or travelling any less charming.

Motorbike and a liter of petrol
Tanka Ram Poudel, Entrepreneur

Considering our situation, nothing would make me happier than somebody arranging for a liter of petrol for my ride. Around 10 days ago, I gave my bike for maintenance as it had a hole in the petrol tank. At the moment due to extreme fuel crisis, I see people queuing up for petrol and it scares the daylights out of me. It has hindered my daily activities. My staffs can’t come to work, there’s no gas, and the office can’t function properly. So I’m really hoping the situation will go back to normal, and soon. If the situation hadn’t come down to this, I’d have loved to travel and get out of the valley for some self-reflection, as I used to do prior to this fiasco here. That used to make me really happy.

Movies and books
Subin Bhattarai, Writer

I have a whole list of things that make me happy, like watching movies, reading books, traveling, and trying out new dishes. I’ve found out that I like watching movies that others call average. I don’t watch with a very critical eye. I just take them as a source of entertainment. So whenever I’m watching a movie, I focus on the good elements of the movie rather than what could have been better. It’s more of an enjoyable moment and I make sure I have as much fun as I can. It’s the same while reading a book. Even if there are emotional bits in it, I take a sort of satisfaction out of it. It’s not necessary that only the funny bits make you laugh. It all comes down to the moment, which is short-lived, and you might as well enjoy it.

Nature, food, and loved ones’ company
Mala Limbu, Model

I like to go out and enjoy what the nature has to offer. Whether it is trekking or hiking, I enjoy it to the fullest. After coming back from Singapore, I used to walk from Dharan to my father’s village almost every day, making almost three hours’ worth of journey by foot. I think it gave me a wonderful experience of the countryside. I had to cross almost two to three rivers in succession. I used to pass by people working in the fields, children going to school, and enjoyed the smell of the trees, grass, and the sight nearby the river. I realized that it gave me an opportunity to be with my thoughts and made me absorb the environment even more. It’s a beautiful feeling, one that always left me happy. I loved eating jeri-puri on the way. Nowadays, my friends and I go for long walks whenever possible, and it has its own plus points.