Para

Para is an employee at Intelsat and comes into the fitness center on a regular basis. He is full of life and energy. He always comes up to the front desk to talk to me during his "workout." (I like to give him a bad time about it and tell him to get back to work.) He also likes to challenge me in the group exercise classes to see who can do the best. I've gotta hand it to him, he puts more spunk and energy into the classes than anyone else I've ever seen. Occasionally you'll even hear a little shout of enthusiasm coming from him during the classes.

Today Para came in to a special breakfast we had at the fitness center and ended up staying and talking for quite some time. His mouth can run 100 mph, but I enjoy every moment of it. He started talking about happiness, family, time, and certain philosophies he has about life. He said that he lives life so that he is happy in every moment. He makes the most of every moment. He doesn't worry about the future. He said that you just have to do the best you can in the moment you're in and not worry about the rest. I have a tendency to think that once something happens, then I'll be happy. I'll be happy after I lose 10 lbs. I'll be happy after I get married. But the truth is, I have to be happy right now or else I won't ever be. We can't keep waiting around for something to happen that will make us happy. We never know how much time we have left. What if we keep waiting for that one thing that will make us happy, but before we know it, our life has ended and we have wasted the opportunity to be happy because that one thing never came?

Earlier this week, there was a metro crash in D.C. It was the deadliest crash in the metro's 33 years of operation, killing 9 people and wounding dozens of others. I ride the metro to and from work everyday and depend entirely upon it for transportation. It could have easily been my train that crashed that day, but it wasn't. I have been watched over and protected, and I feel that I should make sure to live the rest of my life as fully as I can; to always be happy and to share that happiness with others, to serve them. This is going to take a lot of work and deliberate effort, but I know that it will be worth it.

The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “Happiness is the object and design of our existence." There is so much in this life that we have to be happy about. Para, for example, takes a break from work for a few seconds each day to gaze out his window and watch a nest with a family of birds. It's simple, but it is powerful to take a moment and look around you and enjoy the simple beauties and wonders of life; to find happiness in these things. I am thankful for Para and his example. I am thankful that he has reminded me of these important truths.

Originally from Sri Lanka, Para's family now lives in the UK. He is leaving soon to visit them for an extended period of time. I will miss him. I will miss seeing his cheerful face, but I am glad that he will be returning before I leave so I can see him again.



“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”
- - Aristotle