Simple Joys

Happiness.. not deep, tranquil, "cup-filled-to-the-brim" happiness..
That sort of happiness is driven by some strongly personal meaningful cause..
Like for eg., my brother's marriage.. when I saw him happy..
Or.. the day I got a job... My first salary... Independence!!
And a lot many more beautiful happy moments to cherish..

But that wasnt what I meant by "simple joys"..
Its those small little little happenings that somehow surprisingly adds up to brighten your day.. and give you a special feeling.

Most days I walk to my office from my apartment.
When I walk into my office campus which houses lots of other companies and buildings and industries.. the security personnel at the gate smiles at me and says a friendly comment.. like being more careful about way I cross the road.
Then I walk on.. and I see the lift operator passing by in a bicycle.. He smiles at me and tells me "be careful when u get on the lift.. if it gets stuck, I am not around to get u out of it.." and chuckles and says he was kidding..
A few more steps, and I find the cab driver, driving past me, honking a horn and giving a friendly salutation..

By the time I reached office, I was feeling great inside..

I go into the office.. and the office-chechis show comical surprise "Sooooryaaa ethiyooo" and smile.. and I say something back and laugh..
At lunch,I sit with my witty lady colleagues and we barrage each other with "goals" and more "goals".. enjoying myself immensely..
And then finally in the evening, a colleague I used to sit near to in my earlier office building comes visiting.. She is someone I've always liked.. a lively, funny girl.. She is going home.. its her last day in office... She had come to bid farewell to everyone.. She came near me.. My manager was sitting on my desk, exploring something in my PC.. I extended my hand and beckoned her and she eyed the manager side-ways and said "ivideyo.. purathottu vaa"..
So I took leave for few mins and went out of the office door..
She was in a hurry.. and hurriedly told me a few things.. her future plans of higher studies.. when classes will start.. and so on. And hurriedly gave me a warm hug and left..

I was surprised.. and it left me happy.. :)

These little little moments r like gems scattered from Heaven to me..
Life is funny.., I know people change.. relationships change..
Good friends turn against one another...
Even family bonds could deteriorate during difficult phases.
There is nothing solid or unchangeable about anything.. people, circumstances, perceptions..
But the simple joys of routine life.. whenever they happen, embrace it with all your heart and be happy..
It is the simple joys that mostly see you through life...

Never under-estimate the power of a simple nod of acknowledgment.. a friendly salutation.. a smile. What it eventually tells someone is.. "Hi.. I know this is you.. and I am glad to see you around".. and probably that could be the happiest thing that person has come across, that whole day...

No wonder Islam says that a smile is a charity.. a kind word is a charity.. Its a good deed.. It makes u happy.. and eventually it could make someone's day.. like the way mine was made today :)

Thank you God!