The heart of happiness

What truly lights you up?

Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash

Five neighbors gathered on a Chicago stoop one Sunday afternoon.

One question turned small talk into something else.

I asked, “What makes you happy?”

They hesitated. This wasn’t the small talk they’d expected.

And there was a catch.

Since every one of them was a parent, I made one rule: no answers about their kids or parenting joys.

Not milestones or memories like bedtime stories. Just what made them happy.

Silence stretched. Smirks followed.

They exchanged looks, the kind that screamed, “Are we really doing this?”

I couldn’t resist.

There’s only so much mindless chatter I can stomach before I blurt out a question that cuts deeper.

“What makes you happy?”

Here’s what happiness looked like through their eyes — five neighbors, five answers, each as different as they were real:

Sofía: She described happiness as partying and traveling — rooftops and new adventures light her up.

Triest: She said happiness comes from learning something new just for the joy of it, along with quiet moments and peaceful retreats.

Carlos: He shared that happiness comes from doing whatever he wants, whenever he wants, no explanations needed.

Me: I said my happiness comes from walking in my purpose; becoming my best self and finding peace along the way.

Miguel: He said happiness is simple for him — just waking up each day. That, he added, is the best gift there is.

Each neighbor’s answer was slightly different, yet every perspective felt equally valuable — a mosaic of what happiness looks like through unique lenses.

It was a vivid reminder that we’re shaped by our own experiences, and our motivations come from places deeply personal to us.

There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for joy.

To me, Miguel had the best answer of all.

No coincidence that he, a white-haired man in his 60s and the eldest among us, spoke simply yet profoundly about waking up each day.

Often, it’s the oldest who have wrestled most with the challenge of considering themselves beyond roles and responsibilities. His words captured something fundamental: happiness isn’t always grand or flashy.

Sometimes, happiness is simply the quiet gift of being here — fully present and grateful for the chance to keep moving forward.