If you could see my face at the moment, you'd find me smiling, smiling because i've always wanted to talk on this issue. Hollywood movies make it seem so simple to just quit a long hard life of achievement regardless of the situation in the so called pursuit of happiness.
As much as I want to jump to the conclusion of saying yes like almost everyone else, am afraid in reality it might be more complicated than just choosing to be happy, and if done, might probably come at a very heavy prize.
There's this movie called "Puzzle" I saw the other day. It was centered on a woman and her family. She was a stay at home mother of two boys married to a hard woking father. I don't think she was that happy because her daily live revolved around house chores and serving the family all the time. Her life got excited when she received a puzzle box as a gift from a friend. She immediately realized she had a talent for solving puzzles. On one of her trips to purchase more puzzle boxes, she came across a flyer posted by some guy who's looking for a puzzle solving partner to participate in an upcoming competition. She hesitated at first but eventually ended up making contact. It turned out that the guy was a billionaire who solves puzzles and engages in competitions as a hobby. They began meeting and giving that he belonged to a completely opposite world of experiences from hers, it didn't take long for a romance to ensue. She felt happy like never before.
Drawing from the instance above, do you think she should follow happiness given the situation? I mean, she has a perfect family with a close relationship with her boys. Her husband was faithful and hardworking. The only thing missing was the type of excitement the billionaire gave to her. Going with her happiness in her case will mean breaking a lot of commitments and hurting those closest to her. Of what use is being happy if you can't be at peace with your past.
The honest truth is that, happiness isn't all about the present feeling towards any situation. I personally believe that every individual holds their right to be happy. You can choose to be happy or not regardless of the situation. It all lies within.