Happiness is...

Not when you earn money, save money but spend some. During childhood days, like everyone else, I used to expect my parents to take me outdoors, to a movie, to a park or a trip to our native town. I felt happy when we went out as a family to any such place. My sister and I had the habit of demanding a lot of things when we go out for dinner, like taking auto (transportation similar to taxi) instead of the bus ride back home. We did not realize the pinch on our parents' wallets then, we were happily ignorant of that. Later,we realized it.

Now, in my life, when I get a chance to bring my parents out (not only out of their home, out of their usual world) to a different country, I feel a sense of pride. We (my wife and myself) feel happy that they get to experience their first flight journey. The feeling we get when we drive them around in a car with them relaxing in the rear seat is not so easy to explain with words, must be felt for you to understand.

We take care of all their needs and necessities when they are with us here. We take them out to famous tourist places, temples, parks and dinner or lunch at hotels. All this just struck me to see how lucky we are to make them happy similar to how they did.

Sure, nothing is free of cost. So when my parents say, why such a costly trip son, that shirt looks expensive, lets not dine out. I just feel like saying, "Mom, dad, certain things in life are priceless".

So, between your savings and checkings, do some spending too.

Vj