better days ahead

The reign of coronavirus has brought nothing but troubling news and upended lives.

In quarantine, I'm hard pressed to find happiness. I am a pessimist for the most part and looking on the bright side has never been an easy task for me. Being at home and going through the same routine each day has brought me into a state of insanity. In addition, as an avid news reader, the weight of headlines loom large over my head as the statistics and stories keep getting worse rather than better.

The world has never felt so somber.

In a world penetrated by gloom, it is very important to carve out pockets of happiness. After all, darkness only makes the light brighter.

But this makes me question, what is happiness?

An elusive abstract idea that is thrown around frequently within society, happiness is something that is in everyone's life but appears in many divergent forms. It takes the shape of a person and who they are, rather than being a one size fits all approach. This makes finding happiness in your own life difficult, but not impossible.

Here are my seven ways that I create happiness within my own life.

Marmalade, my ginger cat that I adopted four years ago!

1. Animals

Nothing makes me happier than snuggling up with my little cat Marmalade and reading a book or watching a TV show. Having the company of a pet always manages to warm my heart no matter what my mood may be. Many studies have shown that being around animals or having a pet makes us less stressed and happier people. I have felt first hand the magic of being around animals. So whether it's going home and giving your pet a big squeeze, going to a cat cafe, or volunteering at your local animal shelter (which I use to do before I was able to adopt my cat!), animals can always put a smile on your face.

Craig and I at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece

2. Travel

Despite not being able to travel during the pandemic, traveling never fails to make me happy. I am very lucky as both of my parents come from foreign countries which allowed me to travel from a young age. This gave me a taste of what I wanted to do: experience more places on earth. Nothing is more jarring than stepping off the plane into a country whose culture is nothing like your own. But that's the fun of it!

I was so lucky that last summer, my friend Craig and I went inter-railing alone across Europe for two months. I have never been on a more rewarding journey in my life. All my worries about the trip were washed away when I lost myself in the cultures and history we discovered along the way. Traveling allows you to gain a new perspective but it also teaches you lessons about yourself and makes you question what you know (but in the best way).

Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain

As two students on a budget, Craig and I were slumming our way through Europe. Our nights were spent at cheap hostels and our meals were eaten at inexpensive places around the city. Yet this made the trip even more special because when we were in the presence of marvelous works of art or ornate architecture, it made us feel like kings.

Painting at WAA

3. Art

I am an art enthusiast. Whether it's visiting the Getty to see their latest exhibit, watching a documentary on my favorite artists, or working on an oil painting, art always makes me happy. Painting or drawing makes me lose sense of time and is something I can do for hours. Taking time to work on my art always brings me joy because otherwise in my major, I have no other way to exercise my creative side. I am the type of person that always has a sketchbook with them because you never know when you will have inspiration or see something that must be drawn on paper. Art is not something that you need to be good at. It may be frustrating the first few times that you draw or paint but only by practicing can you refine your skills and create the visions in your head. I have been doing this for years, and I'm still no where near where I want to be! That's what makes art so exciting, I know that I can always improve.

RKS concert in Houston, Texas

4. Music and Concerts

Music has always had a large impact on my life and is an instant mood changer. I'm the type of person who has playlists for every mood or event and is always searching Spotify for new music and artists. One of my favorite activities is going to concerts. Ever since I was old enough to drive and pay for my own tickets, I have been a dedicated concert goer. Seeing your favorite band or singer live and singing the lyrics with other fans is the best experience.

View from Dodd hill in the Lake District, UK

5. Adventures

Whenever I'm feeling low, my favorite pick me up is a walk. Adventuring into the woods or going down my favorite trail always puts a smile on my face. Even being at UCLA, I love walking across the campus at night, seeing all the buildings lit up. I find that when we are rushing around campus or commuting to school, we miss the beauty around us. Taking the time to walk and admire all the views makes you appreciate what is around you. I find this is very true with campus as I am always rushing to class and unable to take my time walking around. Walking is also a great way to gather your thoughts or take a break from studying. I always feel refreshed after a walk.

6. Reading

One of my favorite places in the world is a book store. I could easily spend my whole day searching the shelves. My obsession with books and reading started from an early age because finding a book that whisks you into another world is an extraordinary experience. Books are a great escape from the worries and problems in your life. I never fail to lose myself in a good book and become consumed with the story and characters.

Sami, my sister, Vivian, and I

7. Friends

Friends are the family that we get to choose and in my experience, getting together with my friends never fails to make me happy. You can never feel sad after a good laugh. Whenever I finish hanging out with my friends, my abs always hurt because the amount of giggles and laughs we share on our adventures.

In the age of quarantine, however, we are unfortunately not able to see our friends in person. Remote conversations have become the norm within society. Reaching out to friends and talking has never been so important to suppress feelings of loneliness and depression that come from isolation.

Craig and I at a picnic