secret of happiness

I guess I'll really write much about Have A Little Faith in this blog. This is the second wisest book I've ever read after Mitch Albom's first book - Tuesdays With Morrie. I definitely love this book.

So, this time Mitch and his rabbi were talking about happiness after seeing an ad about pill that can cure desperation. Mitch asked his rabbi, the Reb, about what makes a man happy.

...
"Now, that child," he said, " reminds of something our sages taught. When a baby comes into the world, its hands are clenched, right? Like this?"
He made a fist.
"Why? Because a baby, not knowing any better, wants to grab everything, to say, 'The whole world is mine.'
But when an old person dies, how does he do so? With his hands open. Why? Because he has learned the lesson."
What lesson? I asked.
He stretched open his empty fingers.
"We can take nothing with us."

...

So, have solved the secret of happiness?
"I believe so," he said.
Are you going to tell me?
"Yes. Ready?"
Ready.
"Be satisfied."
That's it?
"Be grateful."
That's it?
"For what you have. For the love you receive. And for what God has given you."
That's it?
He looked me in the eye. Then he sighed deeply.
"That's it."


It really is the secret of happiness. We'll never be happy when we always desire more and more while we've had enough already. Be satisfied for small things. Be grateful for anything we have. Then we'll be able to feel really great and happy when we get more than we have - but not craving for more.

The Reb, at that time, was lying in the hospital bed fighting against his lung cancer. Talking with trailing voice and his hand trembling. But, still, he was able to sing to anyone and made them happy even to strangers. In the morning prayer, he always said: "Thank you, Lord, for returning my soul to me."