What is a happy life?

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”

— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

It's a timeless reminder that our happiness is rooted in our perceptions, rather than external circumstances.

Last year, during a vacation with my friends, unexpected bad weather forced us to change our plans.

Instead of feeling disheartened, I remembered these words and embraced the situation with a positive outlook.

Even though we all wined like little babies for a while.

Eventually, we ended up having a delightful time indoors, playing games, sharing stories, and strengthening our poker skills.

This shift in perspective turned an expense that we would have regretted spending into a treasured memory.

Maybe we all should go on a trip and just spend time indoors!

If there is one book that I want to take with me to my grave, it’s Meditations.