Vid #1: Pokemon Center theme 

                   I grew up playing Pokémon games on my Nintendo DS when I was younger. Here is one of the songs from Pokémon Heartgold. It is the Pokémon Center theme song. (Pokémon Center = Pokémon Clinic) This game certainly was a happy part of my childhood. If I was having a rough day, it would all change as soon as I started my Pokémon games on my DS. I chose this song for one of my videos because it contains many elements of what I consider happiness. The chorus itself, is soft, warming, and relaxing. I wish this song would play in real hospitals.  However, the song also gives me an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia. Countless cherished hours of my youth were linked to this song and game. Personally, I believe that looking back at your past achievements and exciting events that you experienced in the past can help you appreciate your way of life more. Instead of focusing on what you haven’t done with a bucket list, I believe it is nice to reflect on all the delightful things you have done. Therefore, you will be able to appreciate your experiences more, allowing yourself to live more happily in the present.

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                Sometimes when I hear the song, it makes me think of all the wonderful memories that Pokémon Heartgold has brought me in the past. The game itself was introduced around 2009. Although I did spend many hours playing it, I never managed to finish it as a child because of how many things there are to do in the game. Luckily for me, I have kept my Pokémon games and I am now completing them from where I left off years ago. Recently, there has been a surge in prices for old Pokémon games on the Nintendo DS. My game with the whole set included costs over $200. Children and teens who used to play Pokémon Heartgold in the past are now young adults with their own money. Throughout the long days of quarantine, these exact young adults are the ones reminiscing about the good days before COVID and their childhood. This surge of recent buyers allowed the game’s resell price to skyrocket, although millions of copies were sold worldwide. The game is by no means a rare collectable item. This is proof that cherished memories have no real price tag.

 

Video #2

                  People often ask themselves what they can do to live a happy and successful life. Most young adults and teenagers believe that obtaining a vast amount of wealth or fame will lead to happier lives. A recent study showed that roughly 80% of young people that were asked about their main goals in life answered that their main goals involved getting rich. However, is extreme wealth alone truly capable of achieving a happy life? Harvard has been continuing a study based on over 700 men for around 80 years now. The purpose of the study is to figure out what makes a good life. They started their research on these 700 men when they were around 19 years old. Among the selected were new Harvard students, but also young men who lived in some of the poorest areas. For accurate results, they required a variety of different people. This YouTube video was created over 5 years ago. During that time, just over 60 of the men were still alive. The study proved that people who had good social relationships lived happier, longer, and healthier lives than the rest. Maintaining good social relationships doesn’t necessarily mean making many friends but making sure that we surround ourselves with people we are comfortable with. These people should be individuals that we can rely on and vice versa. In other words, keeping good social connections with the people you love is key to living a happy life. Sadly, around 20% of Americans say that they are lonely.  The study also confirmed that the people who have close friends and family they can really count on tend to keep a sharper memory as they age. Overall, an impactful message the video portrays is that loneliness and not interacting well or enough with others not only damages people mentally, but also physically. Everyone must come to realize the significance and gravity of social connections during our lives. Keeping good social connections will translate into a happier mind.

 

 

 

Vid #3:

                   A popular belief in our society is that suffering and working hard eads to success, which ultimately results in happiness. Even shows and bookstend to portray this message.  Through my own experiences, I’ve had many teachers who have told me this exact phrase. Unfortunately, the feeling of long-term happiness or satisfaction is not as simple as society states it is. If that is the mentality that one goes by, they will never be content with what they have. Once they reach their goal, their brain will change the goalpost of what success looks like. If happiness comes after success, people will never obtain happiness because they will be too worried about becoming more successful than they already are. The truth is, real long-term happiness and satisfaction will never be met when thinking too much about what we don’t have. Instead, studies conducted at the university of Yale prove that the link between happiness and success actually works better in the opposite order. When one discovers a way to remain positive about themselves in the present, not only are they able to live happier lifestyles, but their brain’s productivity also increases by around 31%. It is said that when people are positive, their intelligence, creativity and energy levels shoot upwards. Higher productivity in the brain can be the root of also becoming more successful. All and all, the video is another solid source of evidence that expresses how one’s mindset corresponds to their happiness. A positive attitude in life is neseccary to live a fulfilling life.

 

 

Vid #4: 

 

                 Around the world, people struggle to figure out how they should view and live their lives. Currently, I am one of those people. Every now and then, my mind goes into a deep-thinking phase. How do I live a fulfilling lifestyle? It dawns me to this day. A few months ago, however, I was scrolling through my YouTube feed, and I happened to stumble upon this exact video. Excitedly, I watched the video because if anyone could offer truly meaningful life advice, it must be the elderly. They’ve lived over a hundred years and have seen and witnessed everything life has to offer. Despite being so old, the three elders in the video seemed to be as joyous as a child with new toys. Their cheeriness persuaded me into cheering them on to live even longer lives.

 

                 Although being over a hundred years old, what made them so happy and what really kept them moving was how they learned to appreciate the small things in their day to day lives. Amelia, the elderly woman quotes “Everything makes me happy. I love talking to people. I like doing things. I like going out shopping.” Clifford, who is 101 years old quoted “One hundred and one is only a number, and you live for the day.” Clifford also claimed that making his own bread was something he is fond of. The 102-year-old, John expressed his excitement when he was simply shopping for groceries online on his tablet. Many of these activities are just insignificant events in our lives that we take for granted. This video taught me that getting joy from the basic things in life can take you far in terms of long-term happiness.

 Despite seeing her husband die 30 years ago and living through the death of her children, Amelia does get emotional sometimes, but at the end of the day, she lives on gleefully and lightheartedly because it’s just part of life and they live on in her beautiful memories. She describes the feeling in a heartwarming way. “Even if they are no longer here, they’re there, they’re in your mind, there in your air. All around you. It’s really a wonderful, wonderful feeling.” When times get tough, it’s crucial to remember the good things in life. Live in the moment, but also keep your best memories of the past.

 

                One other thing that all three of the elders had in common was their love for their family. Every one of the elders described their relationships with their former spouses gratifyingly. This may also be proof of how your social connections and relationships could affect your overall happiness and determine your mental and physical health.

 

Vid #5: 

              Worrying is apart of human nature. It is natural to have some worries in our lives. However, unnecessary worries and anxiety do our minds and bodies no good. Anxiety comes directly from the mind, not the external world. Anxiety can go as far as hurting your physical body as well. The Buddhists have a term for being in the state of excessive worry. It is referred to as the “monkey mind.” Buddhist teachings say that humans are tricked too easily by their minds. The mind is occupied by fantasies of the future, lies of the present, and insignificant thoughts of the past. Therefore, we shall not believe everything our mind presents us, as our mind isn’t always our ally. When we fall victim to the excessive thoughts in our minds, anxiety will turn out as an outcome. In turn, we may start worrying about our anxiety, which leads to a never-ending cycle. Shantideva was a Buddhist monk from the eighth century. He once said “If the problem can be solved, why worry? If the problem cannot be solved, worrying will do you no good.” In other words, you either solve your problems or embrace them and let them be. People think too much about the things they cannot control. The key to getting rid of anxiety is dissolving excessive thoughts, instead of worrying about resolving problems. The method that the Buddhists use to dissolve their excessive thoughts is through meditation. Meditation is key to focusing on the present moment and letting the excessive thoughts flow out of your mind.

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            As a teenager heading into the last year of high school, I’m bound to anxiety and “excessive thoughts.” I find the Buddhist teachings of finding your inner peace very useful. A mind that is free from the chains of excessive thought is a mind that will be ale to find its inner peace. Losing your pointless worries is definitely a big step in maintaining a positive mind. The positive mind will aid you in finding your purpose, ultimately allowing for a happier and healthy lifestyle and mindset.