Our perception of happiness is inherently relative and subjective. You can work hard, achieve a great deal, and still feel that something is missing, always wanting more. This pursuit often has no endpoint. The idea of an absolute form of happiness may remain forever out of reach.
Looking back, it is sometimes easy to feel that earlier periods were happier. Not necessarily because life was better, but because it was less demanding. At the time, however, we rarely recognize this.
Over time, I came to see that happiness is not determined solely by external circumstances. It is shaped by how we perceive and interpret our experiences. Being able to adjust that perception, and still feel happiness, is a skill.
This raises a quieter but more important question: are we trying to reach an imagined ideal, or are we willing to step into the unknown? Choosing the unknown means being open to surprise, along with the pain that may come with it.
No matter what happens or where one ends up, experiencing happiness is not just a matter of luck. It is a cognitive ability that can be developed and practiced.