I was walking along a busy street one day when a stranger stopped me and asked, “Are you happy?” Without thinking too much, I smiled and replied, “Yes.”

But then he asked again, “What makes you happy?”

That question caught me off guard. I paused for a few seconds, trying to come up with an answer. Strangely, I couldn’t. My mind went blank. It was as if I had been so used to saying “I’m fine” or “I’m happy” that I had never truly stopped to examine what happiness meant for me.

Since that moment, the question has lingered in my mind. What does happiness really mean to me? Is it about financial stability — having enough savings to feel secure? Is it about doing things I love — creating, writing, sharing, traveling, and feeling alive in the process? Or is it about making others happy, being the reliable person everyone can lean on?

The truth is, many of us spend our lives chasing standards that society sets for us. A good career, a stable home, a picture-perfect family, or a well-defined life path. But in the middle of all that, how often do we stop to ask ourselves: Am I truly living for me? Or am I living to fulfill others’ expectations?

Happiness is not a checklist. It is not something we “arrive at” once we have enough money, the right partner, or the perfect circumstances. It is something more fluid, personal, and deeply connected to the choices we make every day.

For me, this unexpected encounter became a mirror. It forced me to reflect:

• Have I been honest with myself about what I want in life?
• Am I creating space to pursue the things that genuinely bring me joy?
• Or am I postponing my happiness until “someday” when everything looks perfect?

Perhaps happiness is not about having all the answers. Perhaps it’s about asking the right questions and being brave enough to live the answers, even if they lead us away from the familiar.

So I’m starting to redefine happiness, not as a vague word I nod to politely, but as a practice — choosing what nourishes me, letting go of what drains me, and giving myself permission to pursue joy without guilt.

And maybe the real question isn’t “Are you happy?” but rather “What are you willing to do today to live closer to your happiness?”

What is your thought? Share your reflection in the comments. Take care and be happy!