Dear friends, we are living in an age where technology has changed our way of thinking, behaving and connecting with people. Gadgets have taken over our lives so completely that, at times, we find them more important than our family or friends. This has created a loneliness that you may not realise right now, but it will grow silently and make you feel isolated.

Will you agree with me if I say that, in spite of luxuries and comfortable lifestyles. The majority of people seem to be unhappy or not content with their lives and circumstances? If you think about it deeply, you will surely say that I am right.

Before coming to my point, let me tell you a little about myself. Blessed with a great-grandson about a year ago, I am thankful to the Almighty for a long and productive life. I have seen six generations in my 70-plus years: my grandparents’, parents’, my own, my children’s, my grandchildren’s and now a great-grandson. My childhood was spent in a small, cosy home with strong family bonds. Although my parents were well-off, my siblings and I led a simple life. But we were happy and content.

The world has contracted into a global village during the last few decades, and life has changed at a breakneck speed. I sometimes feel dizzy from the swift changes I have witnessed. At your age, you may not fully comprehend how society has evolved but, with time, you will understand my feelings.

You are blessed with more luxuries and ease than I could have dreamt of. Most of you belong to affluent families, live comfortably, study in prestigious schools and wear expensive branded clothes. But deep down, there is a sense of hollowness in many hearts, as if we are walking on a road to nowhere.

First let us try to understand what it means to be happy. Happiness is a broad feeling that varies from person to person. Broadly speaking, we can describe it as a state of contentment nurtured by positive........

© Dawn Young Magazine