SHENAYOGA

I first was asked this question on a bonfire night by the sea on Cook Islands. Susann, a young, vibrant and beautiful German, suddenly popped this question at everyone. We all had to answer her, one at a time. Some of us stuttered and started, “yea but…” She interjected and insisted, “no, now. Are you happy now?” And we smiled and each replied “yes”, our faces glowing in the warmth and light of the bonfire. At the Vipassana, buckets of old feelings and buried emotions surfaced. Many times I wondered if I am truly a sad person so deep within, if those old scars I confidently thought gone, were never really healed. Life seems unfair during some moments. Then her voice floated in — “are you happy now?” And I was seated in the safest, echoey, quietest place; with 60 mindful beings; breathing, feeling, loving. And I know, at every moment, I am happy now. We tend to let five minutes of shit hitting the fence define our entire day, or let a bad relationship define us, or a mistake hold us back from living fully. Hmm, and so I pop you this question to ask yourself ever so often, “are you happy now?”

Actual picture of us by the bonfire on Cook Island, Rarotonga – shot and shared by Miguel.