Finding yourself, finding your true happiness...

So, what is true happiness? Does the smile really bring happiness?

The Boy Who Fed On Nightmares

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The boy woke up from another nightmare. Bad memories from the past that he wanted to erase from his head were replayed in his dreams every night and haunted him nonstop.
Years went by, and the boy become an adult. He no longer had nightmares. But for some strange reason, he wasn’t happy at all.
One night, a blood moon filled the night sky, and the witch finally showed up again to take what he had promised in return for granting his wish.
And he shouted at her with so much resentment: “All my bad memories are gone, but why... why can’t I become happy?”
Then the witch took his soul as they had promised and told him this: “Hurtful, painful memories. Memories of deep regrets. Memories of hurting and being hurt. Memories of being abandoned. Only those with such memories buried in their hearts can become stronger, more passionate, and emotionally flexible. And only those who can attain happiness.”
“So don’t forget any of it. Remember it all and overcome it. If you don’t overcome it, you’ll always be a kid whose soul never grows.”

The Cheerful Dog

Once upon a time, there lived a dog that was very good at hiding his emotions.
The dog was tied beneath a shade tree.
He always wagged his tail and acted cutely. So he got the name, “The Cheerful Dog”, because he was as cheerful as springtime.
The dog always had lots of fun with the village kids during the day.

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But every night, he’d moan and whine when no one was around. That’s because he wanted to cut off the leash and freely run around out in the spring field. However, he couldn’t. And that’s why he cried every night. Every single night.
One day, a voice inside him asked the Cheerful Dog. “Hey, why don’t you just cut off the leash and run away?” And this is what the Cheerful Dog said…”
“I’ve been tied up for way too long. So I forgot how to cut myself free.”