Back when I was a teenager going through some tough times, I found myself wondering about this mysterious thing called the "secret to happiness." That curiosity ended up leading me to Zen Buddhism, where I first learned how powerful it can be to just focus on the present moment instead of getting caught up in the past or future. Before I knew it, I was diving into mindfulness meditation. It’s turned into a practice that’s stuck with me ever since.

Here’s what I’ve come to realize about the secret to happiness—it’s not about landing a dream job, finding the perfect relationship, or sailing around on a fancy yacht. Peace, joy, love, contentment…these are already inside us. They’re part of who we are. It’s just that, somewhere along the way, we’ve lost touch with them—like old friends.

To reconnect with that inner sense of joy, we just need to start paying attention to each moment like it’s a heartwarming gift waiting to be opened. Mindfulness helps bring us back home, where happiness is standing at the door, ready to welcome us in. As the wise Dorothy once said, “If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.”