I Have Found the Trick We Can All Be Creative, Energetic, and In a Good Mood Forever

It’s Free and We Just Need to Do It Everyday (That’s the Hard Part)

This morning at 8 am I left home for a walk. There were squirrels, ducks, magpies and geese. There were people smoking weed already in the park. Runners jogged past the smokers, cyclists frowned at the smell of weed.

Is the trick to happiness weed, cycling or running?

You can do all of them if you want, but my trick is to just to get out in the morning.

Why those weed smokers matter

I have no issue with weed smoking. It was just a bit too early and they were drinking too. Five men in the park drinking and smoking on a Sunday morning, against the lockdown rules in England.

I felt grateful the instant I saw them, of course also a bit alarmed as a girl on my own in a big park. Thankfully nothing happened, they just said good morning to me and smoked on.

The reason I’m grateful is that it feels good to be healthy. I could easily go down their route, I was once in the position of drinking alcohol for breakfast, so it wasn’t that big a turn to start smoking in the morning. But I have chosen to be healthy, in between smoking, walking and running, I have picked the middle one. Not too shabby not too aggressive. walking suits me. So I am also grateful for that.

If we are sorry for ourselves, we must get outside and see the world. There are many people who are in a worse situation than us, really, I don’t think anyone reading this on a paid platform that requires internet access can be the worst. But that doesn’t mean our suffering is not real, but going outside, help us to put things into perspective.

Why the runners and cyclists matter

Isn’t it joyous to see others working hard to keep themselves in shape and do what it takes to love themselves? I used to get jealous when that hot model-looking colleague at work goes to the gym 5 days a week before work.

Although she deserves to look like a model and I really don’t exercise enough, I am still jealous. I’m jealous of her motivation and ashamed of my laziness. I’m also jealous of her butt.

But this morning, no, between those who slept in and those who geared up, I am again in the middle. I am burning some calories, training my butt.

The sportsmen and sportswomen passed by me and yelled “good morning!”, I smiled and yelled back. I don’t know why we were yelling, perhaps the energy of mutual respect is too strong.

Maybe one day I will pick up my bike and cycle too, that’s very likely. We deserve from where we put our effort in, let’s focus on putting the effort first.

Why the animal matter

They don’t care about anything I said above. The critical difference between an animal and a human, maybe except advanced primates and elephants, is that they don’t have self-consciousness. They don’t look at a mirror and comment on their body shape, they don’t compare themselves to others and felt awkward about themselves.

When a person spread feed to the ducks, they rush to the target then fight to catch the food first. When the same person intervenes their fighting, they don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed. They just swim or walk away, waiting for the next opportunity or to find food somewhere else. They don’t need to be the feeder’s pet, unlike what we do to please our parents, teachers, bosses, and/or in-laws, sometimes even friends and strangers.

No one is good and no one is bad in animals’ eyes. They don’t hate their predators with passion, it’s just the law of nature, so they are going to avoid being eaten, that’s it, and then turn and eat something else.

So what’s the trick?

The trick is to go outside first thing in the morning, move your butt about, say hello to people and observe animals.

Morning is a special time, it’s reserved for extraordinary people (good or bad). Don’t underestimate it, when I was in my most depressed state, I would wake up at 3 am, go back asleep at 6 am, and couldn’t get up until past noon. So I don’t take it for granted when I can sleep and can wake up with my free will.

This is confidence, this is gratitude, this is groundedness. It’s a miracle.

To see people around us makes us realise that we are neither great nor shit, we are just who we are. Not the top, not the bottom, you are what I called a “B3 kind of person”. The letters for achievements, the number for efforts, I want to be in the upper-middle and at ease.

From the animals, we know that no more comparison, people-pleasing and shaming is needed. It’s redundant energy, it’s the side effect of being more intelligent than the animal. You don’t need it, so let go of it.

You can only see all these from being engaged in the world, from walking out of your comfort zone. This is the only thing that can stimulate your mind, give you great vibes throughout the day, and help you smile.

As I left the park an old Asian woman arrived, walking backwards. I am Asian too, so I know it’s a common belief in Asia that walking backwards is good for our health. I love her, she just didn’t give a shit, she must know the trick too.

I wanted to do the same, but I got self-conscious. This means I need to walk more, observe more ducks, so one day, I can be at ease with who I am.

Just need to get up early enough tomorrow!

After the walk I was so inspired I did Chinese calligraphy, Turkish dumplings and I made and edited this video. This testifies my creativity, good mood and energy: