I absolutely love these short films. I am seeking the key to community. Nothing will make me whole but I do have fun creating goals to reach. I have also learned to appreciate moments more. Last year, I lost one of my closest friends within the hour she just contacted me. Each and every moment is precious. Thank you for these beautiful moments and stories.
Wow! Cultivating, nurturing, and maintaining community is one of the keys I'm forging as well. Thank you so much for these words, Franchester. The loss of someone close to you is jarring, heartbreaking, sobering. Every moment is precious indeed, my friend. Thank you for sharing 🧡
I retreat into nature. It reminds me what actual life is. That I am of nature. It forces me to pay attention and find joy in the simplest things, like the warmth of the sun and the beating of my heart.
Love watching, reading and listening to this. Happiness is definitely in the now. Journaling helps stay in these moments more. And reading back on entries I wrote compounds the joy I felt. Thank you for sharing Nneka.
Journaling really is a secret weapon, Mutale! My morning pages have saved me and grounded me more time than I can count. I LOVE thinking about joy compounding. Thank you for putting this into words, my dear ❤️
Honoring and listening to my body is one way. Our bodies are constantly in the present, moving and breathing in the now. Trying to stay grounded and acknowledging that happiness is a fleeting emotion like sadness, anger, despair all passing by- reminding myself that even in the future I will have moments of joy and sadness and focusing on the moments of now. This was so beautifully timed.
How do you let go of the pursuit of happiness and learn to live in the now?
- I don’t think I was built for the race, for the constant chase after something just out of reach. My soul moves like a quiet stream. I find peace in still waters. But that doesn’t mean I never wander. From time to time, I venture down new paths, curious if they might lead to something brighter or easier but still I rarely leap blindly. I’m always quick to stop and ask myself the hard questions all the time. Why am I chasing this? Why does it matter? What am I really searching for? Will I feel fulfilled by this? Am I wasting time? It keeps me honest. So just like you, gratitude has been the sun that warms my heart and mindfulness is the compass that brings me clarity. Together, they remind me that happiness isn’t about running toward some distant horizon, it’s about standing still long enough to see the beauty already around or within me. Thats always been my key sis.
Posted the same answer on Youtube but I’m back here in case you miss it, my bad🙈 I just love this topic so much❤️
I truly appreciate this and I needed to see this. Reading this helps me understand how important the constant expression of gratitude is. To embrace gratitude as a habit.
Detach from Expectations, acknowledging that happiness doesn’t need to look or feel a certain way. Truly learning to accept the full spectrum of emotions as natural and temporary.
Your writing is beautiful and meaningful and love listening to you also. Your voice brings me to the now and helps me remember to look up and embrace all the nature that is around me, all of the little things that take being in the now to notice. The last of the Turkey Vultures have migrated south for now, but watching them soar and catch the thermals so effortlessly, without even a wing flap, will always make me stop whatever I'm doing and reconnect and smile.
first of all, I love questions that aren’t just interesting but make me pause—whether in the middle of work or leisure—and really think. Not necessarily because I have an immediate answer, because sometimes I don’t, but because they challenge me to explore my thoughts and see what emerges.
in those moments, I usually open my voice memo app—like I’m doing now—and let the words flow from my unconscious, letting them take root. Whatever you read here is transcribed directly from my lips;
to the question: How do I let go off the pursuit of happiness and learn to live in the now?
for me, it starts with certain meditative practices I’ve unknowingly cultivated over time. I only recently learned they’re actually a form of meditation—a revelation that came from my friend Badiana during one of our conversations. (https://jollofwrite.substack.com/p/go-and-sin-no-more)
these practices allow everything else to fall away, and they’ve become my anchor.
some examples? Engaging in deep conversations with a friend—about life, society, the mysteries of existence, AI, humanity, why we’re here, what my role is in all of this, or even why I think the way I do.
these conversations could happen over a game of cards, during a casual call, or while simply being alone with my thoughts. Sometimes, I’ll record these ideas and later listen back, which feels like a conversation with myself.
other times, it happens when I’m alone, like in the shower with a podcast playing in the background, entering this mental space where everything external fades away, leaving me alone with my thoughts on the bigger questions of life.
these practices don’t just ground me; they remind me of the simplicity of life. They help me detach from societal expectations of what’s “important” and refocus on what I define as meaningful—my own measures of success, which often diverges from conventional ones.
Ultimately, these moments bring me back to myself. They help me stay centered and remind me of who I want to be In a world that wants me to be anything—but myself.
I absolutely love these short films. I am seeking the key to community. Nothing will make me whole but I do have fun creating goals to reach. I have also learned to appreciate moments more. Last year, I lost one of my closest friends within the hour she just contacted me. Each and every moment is precious. Thank you for these beautiful moments and stories.
Wow! Cultivating, nurturing, and maintaining community is one of the keys I'm forging as well. Thank you so much for these words, Franchester. The loss of someone close to you is jarring, heartbreaking, sobering. Every moment is precious indeed, my friend. Thank you for sharing 🧡
My answer is— by studying, embracing, & remembering Buddhist teachings (every day)
I love how active these words are. Thank you so much for sharing, Amira!
I retreat into nature. It reminds me what actual life is. That I am of nature. It forces me to pay attention and find joy in the simplest things, like the warmth of the sun and the beating of my heart.
"I am of nature." THIS. I felt all of it. Thank you so much, Shelley!
💕
Love watching, reading and listening to this. Happiness is definitely in the now. Journaling helps stay in these moments more. And reading back on entries I wrote compounds the joy I felt. Thank you for sharing Nneka.
Journaling really is a secret weapon, Mutale! My morning pages have saved me and grounded me more time than I can count. I LOVE thinking about joy compounding. Thank you for putting this into words, my dear ❤️
YES... inside the stillness and silence one can TRULY HEAR.
welcome to the plateau of mirrors !
beautifulllllly written Vandorn! Whew, one can truly hear indeed.
I loved reading this - it was so aptly timed for me. The immediate answer to the question I had is “love myself.”
Beautiful, Elle! ❤️
As always-Right. on. time.
So glad you're here, Rebeccah!! 🥹❤️
Honoring and listening to my body is one way. Our bodies are constantly in the present, moving and breathing in the now. Trying to stay grounded and acknowledging that happiness is a fleeting emotion like sadness, anger, despair all passing by- reminding myself that even in the future I will have moments of joy and sadness and focusing on the moments of now. This was so beautifully timed.
A relatable answer! I'm trying to stay in my body, too.
How do you let go of the pursuit of happiness and learn to live in the now?
- I don’t think I was built for the race, for the constant chase after something just out of reach. My soul moves like a quiet stream. I find peace in still waters. But that doesn’t mean I never wander. From time to time, I venture down new paths, curious if they might lead to something brighter or easier but still I rarely leap blindly. I’m always quick to stop and ask myself the hard questions all the time. Why am I chasing this? Why does it matter? What am I really searching for? Will I feel fulfilled by this? Am I wasting time? It keeps me honest. So just like you, gratitude has been the sun that warms my heart and mindfulness is the compass that brings me clarity. Together, they remind me that happiness isn’t about running toward some distant horizon, it’s about standing still long enough to see the beauty already around or within me. Thats always been my key sis.
Posted the same answer on Youtube but I’m back here in case you miss it, my bad🙈 I just love this topic so much❤️
I truly appreciate this and I needed to see this. Reading this helps me understand how important the constant expression of gratitude is. To embrace gratitude as a habit.
Detach from Expectations, acknowledging that happiness doesn’t need to look or feel a certain way. Truly learning to accept the full spectrum of emotions as natural and temporary.
Your writing is beautiful and meaningful and love listening to you also. Your voice brings me to the now and helps me remember to look up and embrace all the nature that is around me, all of the little things that take being in the now to notice. The last of the Turkey Vultures have migrated south for now, but watching them soar and catch the thermals so effortlessly, without even a wing flap, will always make me stop whatever I'm doing and reconnect and smile.
Your art is so beautiful. I'm grateful you are making the things we all need and want to say but don't know how. So, so good.
This is such a good read. This is my answer- by enjoying every moment and I choose to see the beauty of those moments while living life.
Absolutely loved this!! For me happiness is letting go of my thoughts and letting my heart take over. That's when I'm my true self.
first of all, I love questions that aren’t just interesting but make me pause—whether in the middle of work or leisure—and really think. Not necessarily because I have an immediate answer, because sometimes I don’t, but because they challenge me to explore my thoughts and see what emerges.
in those moments, I usually open my voice memo app—like I’m doing now—and let the words flow from my unconscious, letting them take root. Whatever you read here is transcribed directly from my lips;
to the question: How do I let go off the pursuit of happiness and learn to live in the now?
for me, it starts with certain meditative practices I’ve unknowingly cultivated over time. I only recently learned they’re actually a form of meditation—a revelation that came from my friend Badiana during one of our conversations. (https://jollofwrite.substack.com/p/go-and-sin-no-more)
these practices allow everything else to fall away, and they’ve become my anchor.
some examples? Engaging in deep conversations with a friend—about life, society, the mysteries of existence, AI, humanity, why we’re here, what my role is in all of this, or even why I think the way I do.
these conversations could happen over a game of cards, during a casual call, or while simply being alone with my thoughts. Sometimes, I’ll record these ideas and later listen back, which feels like a conversation with myself.
other times, it happens when I’m alone, like in the shower with a podcast playing in the background, entering this mental space where everything external fades away, leaving me alone with my thoughts on the bigger questions of life.
these practices don’t just ground me; they remind me of the simplicity of life. They help me detach from societal expectations of what’s “important” and refocus on what I define as meaningful—my own measures of success, which often diverges from conventional ones.
Ultimately, these moments bring me back to myself. They help me stay centered and remind me of who I want to be In a world that wants me to be anything—but myself.
Dope work. I listen to rap while writing fiction.