AN INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2023 – What is Happiness? – by Charles Schokman
What is Happiness ?
“I have gone through four stages of happiness in life, and finally I understood the meaning of true happiness.”
Ratanji Tata
25 Years Old 84 Years old
When Indian billionaire Ratanji Tata was asked by a radio presenter in a telephone interview: “Sir, what do you remember when you found the happiest in life”?
Ratanji Tata said: “I have gone through four stages of happiness in life, and finally I understood the meaning of true happiness.”
The first stage was to accumulate wealth and resources. But at this stage I didn’t get the happiness I wanted.
Then came the second stage of collecting valuables and items. But I realized that the effect of this thing is also temporary and the luster of precious things does not last long.
Then came the third phase of getting a big project. That was when I had 95% of the diesel supply in India and Africa. I was also the owner of the largest steel factory in India and Asia. But even here I did not get the happiness that I had imagined.
The fourth stage was when a friend of mine asked me to buy a wheel chair for some disabled children. There were about 200 children. At the behest of a friend, I immediately bought a wheel chair.
But the friend insisted that I go with him and present a wheel chair to the children. I got ready and went with them. There I gave wheelchairs with my own hands to all the eligible children. I saw a strange glow of happiness on the faces of these children. I saw them all sitting on a wheel chair, roaming around and having fun.
It was as if they had reached a picnic spot, where they were sharing a winning gift. I felt real happiness inside me that day. When I was about to go back from there, one of those kids grabbed my leg. I tried to gently release my leg, but the child did not let go and he looked at my face and held my legs tighter. I leaned over and asked the child: do you need anything else?
Then the answer that the child gave me, not only shocked me but also completely changed my outlook towards life.
The child said: “I want to remember your face so that when I meet you in heaven, I can recognize you and thank you once again.”
The heart of the above wonderful story is that we all should look into our inner self and think that, after leaving this life and world and all worldly activities, why will you be remembered?
Would someone want to see your face again, it matters a lot?
Courtesy of Ed Jimenez’s Post.
