Shared happiness and sadness.
Inertia — 162
Happiness is only real when shared"
— Christopher McCandless, Into the Wild.
Emotions are like a currency, and we must spend ours wisely.
Imagine you have a finite number of coins to spend. You watch on as some of your friends squander their allowance on fleeting pleasures, on toys and trifles that offer only temporary gratification. And once the sun sets, their pockets are empty and their spirits depleted. Left with nothing but the echo of frivolous pursuits ringing between their ears.
You keep looking around and notice a few others choose their transactions well. They invest in connections, shared laughter, and thoughtful tears. In these exchanges, their energy flows like a river washing over each recipient, leaving traces of shared joy and experience.
So, you move in that direction. Because we are all, in essence, energy merchants who trade in the currency of the heart. Our interactions ripple through our and other people’s existence, weaving a tapestry of shared pleasure. In this connection, we find serendipity, joy, and solace.
I’ve started to believe that all the things that give you tranquility or happiness should be shared with others at large. It helps people know what can bring them happiness or put their minds at ease — especially when the weight of life’s waves comes crashing down on top of you. We’re rarely aware that so many moments in the world or acts we could take up that will bring such a vibe. It can be as tiny as getting up early in the morning or as large as… well, that’s for you to decide.
It saddens me to think that many people out there feel so stuck or in the middle of nowhere, thinking there’s no one to tell or share things with, that many incredible memories die with them. It reminds me of the quote, if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
By all means, you should spend time alone and enjoy happiness to yourself. But how deep and rich does it feel when it’s only spent alone?
With that said, however, I understand that not all transactions are equal — so you must choose your companions wisely, as their energy will seep into you like water through the porous rock; it can either heal you or break you down at varying speeds.
So, surround yourself with people who replenish your coins or give you more for your time and energy. We share happiness and sadness like a set of threads that bind everything together. Some may last a lifetime, while others may snap at the worst possible time.
For the currency of our emotions, every transaction can carry the weight of eternity. So, put it into the things that bring you meaning — whether that’s your environment, the people you spend time with, or your actions for the future. It’s a strange thing, but the world seems to work when you share it with others.