The science of birthdays

Something got me thinking recently. What makes people happy on their birthdays? What gives that feeling of euphoria and a new perspective of the world?

A birthday is the one special day when everyone pampers you. Gives you what you want, and makes you feel generally happy. There's also the feeling of joy for the people around you, as your happiness spreads to everyone you interact with.

Now back to the original question. What makes you happy in the first place? Is it the feeling of being older? Or is it anticipation of what is in store on that day? The pampering, gifts and sweets play a pretty important role in the cheerful feeling of a birthday. The fact that you're now 'older', though technically it's not that different from the day before, makes you feel more adult like too. 

Many of us celebrate our birthdays with sweets and/or a cake. And presents, of course. But there are other greats things about birthdays. For instance, we talk to old friends and make new acquaintances. 

Birthdays create great memories that are treasured all our lives. Just today I saw some pictures of my good friend on one of her birthdays, maybe a few years ago. The pictures left me laughing and wondering how we all grew up so soon.

So I guess birthdays are just one of those days when we can take a break from our dull routine and spice up our lives.....with a little extra happiness.

A very happy birthday to to my special friend, whose birthday was what got me thinking in the first place.

One tiny step

Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

One man set up a little experiment. He drew a painting of a beautiful lady and put it up in the middle of the city. He placed a notice below it inviting the people to write comments. By the end of the day, the paper was filled with things like "her nose is too big" or "her cheeks look too fat." The next day, he wrote "Please correct whatever you feel looks bad" on a notice and hung it near the same painting, in the same place. Not one person acknowledged the painting and no one did anything to it. This clearly shows how the human nature works. We find fault in every little thing, but when it is really up to us to correct it, no one volunteers.
If every person made one small change from their side for the good of the world, the world would be a better place. Unfortunately, everyone thinks they are the 'greatest' and believes that such trivial things are beneath them. This is the worst attitude a person could have. Some people, on the other hand, do good just for credit; in other words, to show off. There are very few people on this earth who help do good to the society just for the happiness of it, who want nothing more than to make the world a better place. Doing good does not just mean donating large amounts to charity, or giving away free food. Every act of helping, however small, will bring happiness as long as you do it with a clear mind and a pure heart. Such an attitude is very rare in society. Hats off to those people, without whom, our society would have crumbled a very long time ago.
Happiness can always be found in the smallest things, like the smile on the face of someone you helped, the snore of someone you put to sleep after a long time or the voice of someone you helped train. Money and fame are the things that destroy such pure happiness, the happiness that gives you the satisfaction and peace of mind.So next time if you think of something that could make the world a better place, act on it and don't sit there like a statue. Every idea helps, and ever extra helping hand counts.