Picture happiness. Do you have a picture of it in your head already? Take a moment to make a mental image of happiness. Is it a smile? Is it a laugh? Is it a gift? A surprise? A reunion? Can you feel it in your skin?

Right now you’re thinking of what happiness feels like. We just called happiness a feeling, but it’s not something you can see, hear, or touch. You can’t smell or taste it either. It’s not an object you can hold, it’s somewhere inside. I’d like to ask what properties it has. Does happiness come in waves? Is it constant? What kinds of rules govern the way happiness exists? All of us know how it’s expressed when we hear, “I feel great today!” or “I’m so happy to be with you.” All of us know what happiness feels like, but none of us can spell it out correctly. Some would call it a warm glow inside our body. Others would consider it to be a carefree blissful pleasure. Others say they feel happy only when they’ve accomplished something. Happiness, as well as all emotions, are the most innate aspect to being alive. Happiness itself is intangible yet emotion is the only real thing we experience - all else is illusion, some trick of the mind.

Through your life if you’ve been open to advice, ready and listening, there’s nothing this book can teach. Unless you decide to internalize what you read. Unless you consciously decide to feel these words. Read out loud. Read it twice, three times. Read one page per day and let it resonate. Please do anything it takes to make these words matter to you, because how this book will change your perspective is important for reasons greater than yourself.

So read on. Read until the light fades from where you are, then, keep reading until the light comes back. All the while feel these words.