When I
travel on business, I like to talk to the taxi drivers who take me from the
airport to my hotel, or to a convention center, or to a restaurant. Taxi drivers
are often immigrants with interesting personal histories and unusual cultural
backgrounds. I ask them how long they've been in America , how they chose which city
to live in, and what they like best about where they live. Of course, I also
ask them for advice on good local restaurants and any special attractions
they'd recommend to a visitor. I've had some great experiences on my travels,
thanks to the advice of taxi drivers!
On one
trip about ten years ago, I was making conversation with the taxi driver,
asking him my usual questions about how he came to live where he lived. Then I
asked him a hypothetical question: "If you could live anywhere in the
world-and if money was no object-where would you live?"
Without
hesitating even for a second, he replied, "I live in my heart. So it
really doesn't matter where my body lives. If I am happy inside, then I live in
paradise, no matter where my residence is."
I felt
humbled and a little foolish for my question. Of course he was right;happiness
is an inside job. He had reminded me of something I already knew, but had
forgotten. If you can't find happiness inside yourself, you'll never find it in
the outside world, no matter where you move. Wherever you go, there you are.
You take yourself with you.
I am
grateful for the wisdom of that taxi driver. And I'm grateful for all the
wisdom others have shared with me about how to be happy.
Extract from Internet
By Kasun Gayasri
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