Happily, albeit, not ever after

We all need happiness, like we need oxygen, water, food, roof over our heads. But there's a fundamentally wrong understanding of happiness that's perpetuated since we're children: “happily ever after”, an all-too-familiar phrase found at the end of virtually every fairy tale.

Let's face it, with each passing day we're turning this world into a bigger open sewer. Children growing up in this world with the expectations of living happily ever after are in for the rudest awakening, and they deserve a heartfelt conversation on what happiness and sadness are.

Adults should realise – and in turn help children understand – that happiness is not perpetual. Happiness is a constant work in progress. If you got the blues, know that it does get better but there's no happily better ever after. The only thing we can do is try to be better-equipped to handle whatever life throws at us. 

– Karim Waheed, Editor, SHOUT