Relative Happiness
August 11, 2010 at 12:54 pm 4 comments
Today I got a call from my father asking how I was adapting to being back home. My father, like most Lebanese fathers, believes Lebanon is the best country in the world. Why on earth would anyone want to live anywhere else? He prides himself in the fact that both me and my little brother have moved back (temporarily).
His reasoning is that happiness comes from within, with no regard to location. “You can be happy anywhere if you’re happy inside,” he said. I agree that you can control your own happiness with the right attitude, but where you live also has a huge impact. How can you be really happy if you’re stressed?
Beirut is one of the most stress-inducing cities I’ve ever lived in – the traffic, the pollution, the corruption and the political problems. It’s hard to not let these things affect you and they’ll naturally roll-over onto your general well-being. I hardly see Beirut appearing on the world’s top “happiest” cities to live in. Perhaps those living in the villages or suburbs of Lebanon are happier.
The issue of where I truly belong is recurring, and I realize it most sharply when I come back to Beirut. As much as I love Lebanon, I never feel completely happy here. My current “home” is more where my family lives, than where I really want to be..
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Read more about the world’s happiest cities here. My favorite city in the world is number three. Go figure 
Entry filed under: From the Heart. Tags: conversations with dad, happiness, looking for home, travel bug.
1.
Chantal | August 11, 2010 at 1:07 pm
ohhh…m sorry to hear that! i know Lebanon is full of crap, but u can still enjoy ur time!!
Good Luck finding your true home, i know it’s not an easy mission!!
2.
Lorena | August 11, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Thanks Chanty. I know I’ll feel better about Lebanon in a few days.. This is a major case of post-travel blues.
Always nice to hear from you
3.
BeirutBoy | August 11, 2010 at 5:18 pm
You must feel so stressed out. But just give it some time. Maybe you’ll get used to the craziness over here.
Beirut is all these contradictions. The beautiful and the ugly.
So maybe focusing on the good side of the city (which is what I always do) for now will get you through this Lorena!
I think the happiest city has to be number four, though
4.
Samsam | August 12, 2010 at 6:47 am
You wrote the words that I always wanted to say
When I was away recently I didn’t want to come back… I love Lebanon but just as a tourist destination and not as a place that I would want to live.