The color of happiness

(DN) - Have you ever wondered what color happiness is? Is it the pink of love, the yellow of the morning sun, or the peaceful blue of the sky after the rain? Everyone has their own unique shade of happiness. Some say happiness is the color of a child's smile, others say it's the color of the smoke from a village kitchen in the evening, or the color of a mother's faded clothes after countless seasons of sun and wind. As for me, I see happiness in all sorts of colors, changing with each moment of life.

When I was little, my happiness was a warm orange – the color of the candy my mother hid in my pocket and secretly placed in my hand when I sulked after being scolded. Sometimes it was the white of a new notebook page, when my father would sit beside me, gently teaching me to write my first letters. Back then, I only found joy in those little things, not knowing that they represented truly simple happiness.

Growing up, my happiness was a pale yellow – like the morning sunlight streaming through the window, caressing my disheveled hair after a sleepless night. It was hearing my mother call, “Come down for breakfast, it’ll get cold!” – a voice so familiar it was commonplace, yet its absence, even for just one day, left me feeling empty. Sometimes, happiness is just a familiar phrase, one we carelessly overlooked amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

I remember one time visiting my parents, as soon as I parked the car in front of the gate, my father rushed out. The moment he saw me, he said, "Your car window is loose, let me tighten it. It's dangerous on long journeys." Without waiting for my reply, he quickly went back inside to get his familiar tools. I stood there, watching him hunched over the car, his sun-tanned hands tightening each screw, while he reminded me, "You have to pay attention to these little things, don't wait until it's broken before you start worrying about fixing it." I smiled, and suddenly my eyes welled up with tears. It turns out that happiness can sometimes be that simple – having someone who silently cares for you, without saying flowery words, yet still making your heart feel warm. The color of happiness at that time, for me, was the deep brown of his calloused hands, the afternoon sun glistening on his gray hair, the most simple yet enduring love in the world.

For me, happiness sometimes takes on the color of a child's smile. Like that afternoon, my little daughter ran into my arms, held out a scribbled drawing, and exclaimed, "Mommy, I drew you!" The lines were smudged, the colors haphazard, yet my heart softened. Her innocent smile brightened the whole room. It turns out happiness isn't far away; it's right there in the moment we see that pure, innocent smile.

There are days when I come home after a long, tiring day at work, and as soon as I sit down, my husband gently asks, "Have you eaten yet? Let me cook something." Just that simple sentence makes my heart feel lighter, and all the pressure seems to vanish. That's why happiness sometimes doesn't need anything grand; it's just being cared for with genuine sincerity. At that moment, the color of happiness is the warm, gentle hue of sharing and understanding.

Sometimes, I do nothing at all, just sit still, watching the clouds drift by, listening to the rustling leaves on the porch, and feel an unusual sense of peace. In the morning, sipping my first cup of coffee, listening to the birds singing on the balcony, everything suddenly feels indescribably peaceful. These small moments aren't dazzling or noisy, but they warm my heart. I suddenly understand that happiness is colorless – it's as clear as a breath, as light as a breeze, and you can feel it if you just pause for a moment.

There were days when I was chasing happiness, thinking that only achieving something would truly bring me joy. But the further I went, the more I realized that happiness isn't a destination, but a journey. It's a series of simple moments, small pieces that make up the picture of life. And when we learn to smile at everything, even things that don't go as planned, we've already touched happiness.

Now, if someone were to ask me, "What color is happiness?", I would probably just smile and reply: Happiness is the color of love. It's the warm sunshine of the morning, the peacefulness of a home, the gaze of loved ones, and the transparency of the simple things around us. Everyone will have a different perception, but for me, happiness always has its own unique hue – not too bright, not too dull – just enough to make us appreciate life so much.

Ha Trang

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/van-hoa/202511/mau-cua-hanh-phuc-38203cc/