You must be happy in every moment - it might touch other people's

The words of Huma Qureshi shine like a simple truth hidden in plain sight, yet carrying the weight of eternal wisdom: “You must be happy in every moment – it might touch other people’s hearts and make them smile.” These are not words spoken lightly, but a reminder of the deep bond that ties one human soul to another. For joy is not merely a private treasure; it is a fire whose warmth spreads beyond the self. When the heart chooses to be radiant even in small moments, that radiance travels unseen, softening burdens and planting seeds of hope in others.

The ancients have long known that happiness is not only a personal gift, but a duty. A smile is not an idle curve of the lips; it is a spark of life that awakens the weary and revives the lost. The man who smiles at his brother shares not just cheer, but courage. The woman who greets her child with laughter gives more than comfort—she gives strength. Thus, to be happy is not selfish indulgence; it is the act of sowing joy in the fields of community, where sorrow too often reigns.

Consider the story of Anne Frank, a young girl hidden away in the shadow of war. Despite the darkness that surrounded her, she wrote words filled with hope and light. “I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains,” she declared. Even in her most fragile days, her courage to find happiness in the present moment has touched countless hearts across generations. Her smile, though born in silence and secrecy, became an eternal beacon of resilience, inspiring millions to carry light into their own darkest hours.

This is the essence of Huma’s wisdom: that happiness, when chosen deliberately, is contagious. A single soul that radiates joy can transform the mood of a room, the spirit of a family, even the heart of a nation. Just as fire leaps from one torch to another, so too does happiness leap from heart to heart, multiplying as it spreads. To smile in truth is to give permission to others to do the same, to remind them that the world still holds beauty, even when burdened by shadows.

Yet the teaching is not naïve. To be “happy in every moment” does not mean to ignore suffering or deny hardship. Rather, it means to cultivate within the heart a wellspring of gratitude and resilience that hardship cannot dry up. It means to recognize the gift hidden even in ordinary days, to find laughter in the small, to treasure the breath in the lungs and the beating of the heart. This is not escapism—it is strength, for the one who can smile amid trials wields a power that despair cannot break.

Therefore, the lesson is clear: each of us carries the ability to heal the world, not through great wealth or mighty conquest, but through the daily practice of joy. Begin each morning with gratitude for the simple blessing of being alive. Carry a smile not as a mask but as a light, sincerely offered to those you meet. When your friend is burdened, let your joy be their shelter. When a stranger is weary, let your kindness be their balm. In this way, your life becomes not only your own story, but a source of warmth for all who walk beside you.

In practice, pause often and ask: “What in this moment can make me smile?” It may be the song of a bird, the laughter of a child, the memory of a kind word, or the simple joy of being present. Let that smile rise upon your face, and share it freely. Speak words of encouragement; laugh without shame; live as though each moment is worthy of celebration. For in doing so, you may awaken joy in hearts you do not even know, changing the course of another’s day without ever realizing it.

Thus, remember and carry forth the teaching of Huma Qureshi: to be happy in each moment is not only a gift to yourself, but a gift to the world. Choose happiness not for vanity, but for service. For your joy is a torch, and when you lift it high, others will find their way out of darkness and walk beside you in the light.