Happiness Is ...

As I turned the final page of my first book "Happiness is...How to Become a Happy Entrepreneur" I realized that a single volume could scarcely contain the vastness of the concepts I yearned to explore. The foundational '4E'—Earth, Empathy, Ethics, and Earnings—each a pillar that upholds the archway to true happiness, demanded more than mere mentions; they required deep, dedicated reflection. Thus, I was compelled to continue the journey in a subsequent work, beginning with Earth—the very essence and cradle of our existence. This entire book is an ode to Earth, inspired profoundly by my Ph.D. field trip to Bhutan. That journey was more than an academic endeavor; it was a pilgrimage into the heart of what we stand to lose. There, amid the whispering winds of the Himalayas and the steadfast calm of the Bhutanese people, I pledged to extend the theory of the 4E and substantiate the crucial argument that to love and preserve our planet is not merely an option but an obligation. The narrative of this book is woven from a fabric of firsthand experiences, gathered like pearls from the depths of personal encounters and observations. After witnessing the palpable impacts of climate change in such a vivid setting, I found myself questioning the persistent denial of this crisis, especially prevalent in certain conservative circles in the United States. Why do some deny what is so manifestly detrimental to our collective wellbeing? Why do they choose oblivion when awareness and action are so desperately needed? It became clear that another research paper, another statistic, another graph would not bridge the chasm of disbelief. No, what was needed was a narrative, a tapestry of human stories that could touch the heart and not just the rational mind. So, with a resolve steeled in the serene yet eroding landscapes of Bhutan, I set out to capture the human essence of climate change—the stories of those who live with its consequences and those who visit and leave transformed by the reality of its impact. This book then is not just an academic treatise or a collection of data points. It is a human story, a chronicle of existence, and a plea for recognition. It is about acknowledging that ignoring or denying the harsh truths of climate change will not render them nonexistent. It is a call to embrace our shared home with love and fierce urgency, to protect it not just for our own sake but for the generations yet to come. Behold, as you journey through these pages, you will encounter the voices of local inhabitants and visitors alike, each echoing the undeniable truth of their experiences and their love stories. This is a narrative stitched with the threads of personal truths, designed to pull at the seams of indifference. It is my hope that through these stories, through the lens of our shared humanity, we might finally see our Earth not as a distant other but as our only home—a home that deserves our deepest love and most diligent care. In crafting this collection of narratives, I have woven a tapestry that is part travel log, part intimate confessional, drawn from the rich, diverse threads of lives I encountered during my journeys through some of the world’s most remote corners. Each story is a fragment of the vast human mosaic, capturing a moment in time, a breath of life that speaks of trials and triumphs through the lens of individual perspective. As we traverse these pages together, imagine each chapter as a winding path through different territories, not just of the Earth but of the mind and heart. The voices you will hear are those of people I've met—voices shaped by the rugged landscapes they inhabit, by the political winds that blow over their homelands, and by the economic climates that either buffet their lives with hardship or cradle them in prosperity. This book is not an authoritative guide on what is unequivocally right or wrong; such absolutes are mirages in the complex world of human experience. Instead, these stories are presented to share insights into the nuanced realities of others, to illuminate the grey spaces between the black and white of conventional morality. They invite you to gaze through a kaleidoscope of realities, each turn revealing a new pattern, a new understanding that what may be true for one may not hold for another. Crafted during a time when the world itself seems to be at a crossroads, grappling with existential threats that range from climate change to shifting geopolitical sands, this memoir seeks to be more than just a record of journeys. It is intended as a mirror, reflecting back to us not only our own lives but also the lives of others, so vastly different yet so intimately connected to our own fate. Each narrative is a call to reflection, urging us to consider our place in the tapestry of global humanity. These stories challenge us to think beyond our immediate perceptions and to embrace a broader, more inclusive perspective. They ask us to consider not only what it means to live in this moment but also how our actions resonate in the larger chorus of human existence. As you delve into these pages, let them stir you to action. Let the voices of distant strangers inspire you to engage with the world not as a passive observer but as an active participant in the shaping of our collective future. This is the essence of the journey I invite you on—a voyage of discovery, empathy, and ultimately responsibility towards ourselves and the generations that will inherit the Earth. This book then is both a reflection and a revelation—a lantern lighting the way as we navigate the complexities of our time, urging us to act not out of fear or obligation but out of love for our shared humanity and our only home, this beautiful, fragile Earth. While writing in the tender quiet moments before dawn, when the world is hushed and the soul speaks loudest, I have found the whispers of happiness threading through the stillness. This memoir is a continuation of that quest for understanding, a deeper journey into the heart's forest where, like Thoreau in his Walden, I seek to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I cannot learn what it has to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. Thoreau believed that it is only from truly self-reliant individuals that a genuine community could be formed. As I reflect upon the tapestry of my life, I realize that this book too is a community—a gathering of moments and memories, joys and sorrows, lessons and legacies bound together by the common thread of seeking happiness. In life, as well as in entrepreneurship, we embrace values: to love ourselves, our families, our communities, and our earth. This is our 'raison d'être,' the very essence of our existence, the blueprint for a life of fulfillment. As I ventured deeper into the essence of happiness, I learned it is not just a fleeting emotion but the very sustenance that fuels our passion for living. It is in the laughter of our children, the strength of our families, the harmony of our communities, and the health of our planet. I have chronicled our dialogues – "Happiness is..." – as sacred echoes of the journey we undertake to find the sunlit paths in our personal forests. These conversations are the stepping stones across the river of doubt and the bread crumbs through the woods of fear. Transcendentalists warned us of the corruption from society and its institutions. In these pages, I have sought to strip away those layers, to return to the purity of the individual, to rediscover the art of being 'self-reliant' and truly free. This freedom is not the wild, unchecked liberty, but the freedom to choose our path, to love fiercely, and live gently upon this earth. It is the freedom to build businesses that don't just exist for profit but for purpose, to serve as beacons of hope and progress.