DON’T FAKE HAPPINESS

When I see people smiling warmly in pictures, when I see them grinning cheekily through filters, when I see them partying as if there is no tomorrow, and when I see them laughing as if their heart isn’t choked up with sorrow, a question popsin simple words, the answer is “No, they are not really happy. Theyjustpretendto be.”

How do I know that or who am I to assume things? The first thing we need to wrap our heads around is the reality of happiness. What is happiness? Wikipedia refers to it as a feeling of satisfaction and joy. A positive and pleasant emotion. But everyone has their own way of thinking, so there must be multiple different definitions of happiness. Nonetheless, we all experience happiness in one way or another.

Happiness is a raw emotion. A genuine one. When it appears in its truest form, you just “feel” it. You don’t fake it. You don’t put fake smiles, or let out laughs. You just feel it surging through your whole body, in your heart, in your veins. And this emotion is sometimes too raw that you even cry as well.

We are living in the age of social media. You share something on it, and magically, it flies till the other end of the world. You start doing it just for fun. Sharing little things about you. You love boasting: hanging out with pals, late movie nights, sun-kissed pictures, shopping, funny vlogs, and what not! An escape from the tiresome studies and work. But then, you don’t even realise and it plants its roots in you. On the contrary, people know how you look, your family, your house, how you present yourself. They see your videos and see how you are in person. People criticise you and those people surrounding you, and you don’t want them to know that your life is not all rainbows and sunshine.I can see right through the faces that are morphed into fake happiness. we don’t want others to suspect anything is wrong with us.

The people, who you admire on social media, also go through the exact same issues. They get anxious and depressed as well. They also have this fear of people judging them. Happiness, before anything else, is an emotion. And so is sadness, and anger. You are not obliged to be happy all the time. Be happy, for yourself. Not for the world to see.  Happiness can be found anywhere and everywhere. You can feel it while working, suddenly realising how much you love your job. You can feel it when you see your pet running around your house. Nothing else should matter. This is genuine. This is raw.

Today, I want you to make a promise to yourself, that you’ll at least try to not fake your happiness; that you’ll try to not let social media and other people around, affect you; that you’ll try to be really happy. Just promise that you’ll try. And once you’ll try it, you will know how pure and ecstatic that feels.

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 15th, 2022

 Question 1: [2 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE and write down the sentences or part of the text that justifies your answer. No points will be given if the evidence is not correct.

a)     For Wikipedia happiness hasn’t got a positive meaning.

b)    People begin to use social media to deal with essential matters

c)     Even celebrities are scared of critics

d)    You can find happiness in your daily life.

 

Question 2: [2 POINTS] Choose and answer only TWO of the following questions in your own words according to the text.

a)     According to the author, why do people need to post so much information in social media?

b)    What are the drawbacks of posting so much information?

c)     What does the author recommend?

Question 3: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given. You only need to have five correct answers to get 1,5 points.

a)     Fulfilment (par.2)

b)    Exhausting (par.4)

c)     Guess (par.4)

d)    Misery (par.5)

e)     Authentic (par.5)

f)     Guarantee (par.6)

Question 4: [1,5 ] Choose the correct option – a, b, c or d – for each question and COPY both the letter and the sentence that follows onto your answer sheet.

                   1. When the author sees someone smiling in a picture, he thinks…

 

a)     …that person shows real happiness.

b)    …that person wants other people to think he is happy

c)     …that person doesn’t care about others.

d)    …that person loves parties.

2. People who you admire on social media

 

a)     are worried about posting bad quality pictures

b)    …are worried about being criticized as well.

c)     …are worried about judging other people

d)    …are worried about getting depressed

 

      3. The author asks the reader…

 

a)     …not to fake pictures in social media.

b)    …not to show family pictures in social media.

c)     …not to make an influence on others through social media.

d)    …not to get influenced by social media

QUESTION 5: [3 POINTS] Write a short essay (about 120-150 words)  on the following topic. Essays up to 200 words won’t be penalized.

Advantages and disadvantages of social networking.

 

 KEY

 Question 1

a)     FALSE “Wikipedia refers to it as a feeling of satisfaction and joy”

b)    FALSE “You start doing it just for fun.”

c)     TRUE “They also have this fear of people judging them”

d)    TRUE “Happiness can be found anywhere and everywhere. You can feel it while working, suddenly realising how much you love your job. You can feel it when you see your pet running around your house”.

 Question 2

 a)     People disconnect from daily routine, they want to transmit an image of happiness with friends, trips, love, free time activities…

 b)    They know everything about you. There is a lack of privacy. They can criticize you

 c)     He recommends being happy for yourself not for the rest of the people, avoid faking pictures, do not try to be happy 24 hours a day…

Question 3

a)     Satisfaction

b)    Tiresome

c)     Suspect

d)    Sadness

e)     Genuine

f)     Promise

Question 4

b) that person wants other people to think he is happy

b)…are worried about being criticized as well.

d)    …not to get influenced by social media.