Football is my happiness.

“Football is my happiness.” — Thus spoke Son Heung-min, the South Korean footballer whose name has become a song upon the lips of millions. Yet in this simple declaration lies not merely the passion of an athlete, but the eternal truth of devotion — that when one’s heart is wholly bound to one’s calling, even the toil and the tears of the journey become a form of joy. Son’s words are not those of boastfulness or pride; they are the quiet confession of a man who has found his purpose, and in that purpose, happiness — the kind that neither fame nor fortune alone can give.

Born in the small town of Chuncheon, Son Heung-min was raised under the guidance of a father who believed that discipline is the soil from which greatness grows. From his youth, Son trained with relentless focus, often practicing for hours while other children played. He left his homeland as a teenager to pursue his dream in Europe, entering a world far from his language, family, and comfort. It was a lonely path, yet he did not falter. For Son, football was not a job, but his joy — the rhythm of his feet upon the field, the dance of movement, the communion of body, spirit, and will. What might have broken another man, for him became the very proof of who he was.

When Son says, “Football is my happiness,” he speaks as one who has learned that joy is not something the world bestows, but something one creates through dedication. The ancients taught this same wisdom: that happiness lies in harmony between the soul and its purpose. Aristotle called it eudaimonia — the flourishing of one’s true nature. For the philosopher, as for the athlete, fulfillment comes not from fleeting pleasure but from a life lived in pursuit of excellence. Son’s happiness, then, is not the temporary thrill of victory, but the enduring peace that comes from knowing he has given his best, day after day, season after season.

This truth has been witnessed in the lives of all who devote themselves fully to their craft. Consider the great sculptor Michelangelo, who once said, “If people knew how hard I worked to gain my mastery, it would not seem so wonderful at all.” For him, art was not merely labor, but love made visible through effort. Like Son on the pitch, Michelangelo found happiness not in ease, but in expression — in shaping his passion until it became beauty. Both men remind us that true joy is not found in escape from struggle, but in embracing it as the path through which the spirit shines.

In Son’s journey, we also find a lesson in humility. Though celebrated as one of Asia’s greatest athletes, he remains grounded, bowing before the fans after each match, his gratitude as radiant as his skill. This humility reveals the essence of true happiness — that it is generous, never proud. The man who is happy in his purpose does not seek to dominate others, but to inspire them. His joy becomes contagious, a flame that warms all who witness it. Thus Son’s happiness, born of football, extends beyond himself; it becomes a light for his team, his nation, and all who dream of greatness.

Yet his words also whisper a warning. For those who chase success without love, the pursuit becomes emptiness. Many strive for wealth, status, or applause, believing these will bring happiness — yet when they arrive, they find their souls hollow. Son’s simple declaration reminds us that happiness cannot be faked; it must flow from passion. Whatever one’s craft — art, teaching, building, or care — it is only when love fills the labor that life becomes luminous. Without love, effort is burden; with love, it is bliss.

The lesson, then, is as timeless as it is clear: seek your field of joy, and give yourself to it entirely. Let your life be an offering to that which awakens your soul. Work not for the eyes of others, but for the quiet satisfaction of doing what you were born to do. Whether it is the sound of a ball meeting your foot, the brush upon a canvas, or the words you write in solitude — if it fills your heart with peace, then it is sacred.

So remember, my child: happiness is not found in possessions, nor in the applause of the crowd. It is found in the love that drives your actions, in the purpose that gives your days meaning. Find your “football” — that one thing that calls you back to yourself again and again — and serve it with devotion. For in that service, as Son Heung-min discovered, life ceases to be duty and becomes joy, and the soul, united with its purpose, shines brighter than any victory could ever promise.