Laos Lessons: Happiness is a Choice

It seems like a lifetime ago that I first visited the ancient capital city of Laos, Luang Prabang. I traveled here years ago when I was teaching at international schools in Thailand and Laos. A lot has happened since then. During the pandemic, my former Laos colleague died of a heart attack and another survived open-heart surgery. Almost everyone caught Covid despite wearing masks and washing their hands repeatedly. We are all survivors and have learned that we have to choose to be happy daily. My husband and I did just that this morning in Luang Prabang. We got up at 6 am to join the tourists in the sleepy streets of this historic city in the mountains. Daily, the local monks walk in a single line down the main street in orange robes holding golden bowls. Tourists place bags of rice in their bowls for breakfast. As the sun rises, the monks file back to their Buddhist temple to pray and eat. And so the day begins. 

    What can we learn from this ancient ritual? Routine, discipline, and happiness are a choice. If our basic needs are met, then we have the luxury to choose how to spend the day. How can we help others? How can we make healthy choices? How can we make the world a better place to live in? In this ancient city in northern Laos, there are many lessons to be learned. As I sit beside the Mekong River, it is easy to imagine what this former Laos capital city looked like with Buddhist temples on every corner. They still live a simple life with needs to be met. Monks begin and end each day in meditation with daily routines to maintain the temple and have studied the holy books since the 16th century. Young boys are often sent to the temple by their families to improve their behavior. They return home as better sons and students after living a daily life of purpose through meditation and tasks to maintain the temple. It could be a better alternative to our prison system.

    Actually, I think Michelle Obama would agree. I just finished reading her latest book, "Go High". She says to focus on your purpose and not get off track. Her Harvard Professor reminded them to focus on classes and graduation. Isn't that what all parents do? Harvard now has its first Black President. Further down the river in the mountains of Vang Vieng, we watched the young backpackers enjoy their semester abroad. They hike, bike, and paddle down the Mekong River daily. They all dressed alike in black or grey T-shirts and blue jeans. They stay in one-room hostels lined with bunk beds and air conditioning. They will return to college with adventure stories to tell, find jobs and marry. Someday they will tell their children about their backpacking tales in Southeast Asia.

    Life is a cycle and we need to find a purpose and joy in each phase. I am now reading Drew Barrymore's book, "Wildflower." We grew up with Drew in E.T. from the age of seven. She lived on her own in L.A. at the age of 14 and has some wild stories to tell. Now she has two daughters and is a successful film director and producer who has life lessons to share. Drew journals daily and tries to "Be on Time!" She never was on time when young and instills this in her two daughters. It has caused her trouble. Drew learned to show up on time to movie sets, attend school in between filming, and repeat scenes until she got it right. 

    Drew believes that 'Happiness is a Choice' and one that must be practiced daily. She has some interesting memories to share. My favorite is at the age of 19 when Drew jumped off a cruise ship in Egypt and swam to an island before realizing there was no way to return. Luckily, a crew member spotted her and sent a dinghy to pick her up. Drew made new friends on board and everyone was impressed by her bravado, except for the Captain. 

    We don't have to jump off a ship to get noticed. What can we do daily to make an impact? We can help others, listen, and be available. We can share experiences with others through books, films, dance, and music. It is wonderful to attend concerts, plays, and travel again after being stuck at home during the pandemic. People are smiling more, getting out of their shells, and exploring the world around them. Happiness is a choice that we make each day. Don't worry...be happy!