AlJazirah Newspaper

A person can choose to be happy regardless of the obstacles that may stand in the way. It is natural for a person to feel sad and express that sadness. However, it is your right as well to live happily and choose to be happy.

I once met a woman who always carries an oxygen tank with her so she can breathe regularly. What drew my attention to this woman was the fact that not only was she smiling, but even her eyes seemed happy. Later, I discovered that this young woman suffers from cancer. Even though she is a cancer patient, she had positive energy that is hard to find in people who are healthy.

The woman I am talking about, Shaimaa Al-Eidi, is from Kuwait. I still remember her words that deeply touched my heart. When asked how she felt after being diagnosed with cancer, she replied, “I felt sad for only an hour because life is short and we should not spend it in sadness.”

That is my point: Sadness should not deny us the chance to be happy. You may have hardships in your life but that does not mean you should stay sad for the rest of your life. Happiness is a choice you choose to take. If you find inner peace, then you will find happiness.

Honestly speaking, I do not understand why we seem to enjoy drama so much in the Arab world. It seems as if we are not content with being continuously happy. Sadness should be fought with happiness. It is fine to feel sad but do not forget that happiness should be your way of life.

With all the incidents occurring in the Arab region, happiness should not only be an individual decision but one taken on a larger, perhaps governmental level. Take for example the Saudi General Entertainment Authority or the Emirati Ministry of State for Happiness which both work to put a smile on people’s faces. That is precisely what we need due to the huge amount of negative feelings we have in our societies. We need intensive programs including media and educational programs that will increase the number of happy people around us and spread positivity.