Happiness reminds me of a kaleidoscope, as its patterns and hues vary depending on who peers into it. To some, it’s youth that manifests the true elation, while others derive joy from dutiful days of adulthood. However, I believe happiness exists throughout life, whether in juvenescence or maturity. This essay will dissect both perspectives and justify my opinion.
Most teenagers wish their youth to be eternal, while older individuals tend to reminisce about their former years with nostalgia. Indeed, adolescence is widely regarded as a distinct phase of carefree glee. During this stage, parents or guardians invariably shoulder the financial burden, giving youths the license to live with relative ease without adult obligations. They also have abundant leisure time, allowing them to pursue their personal interests. Most crucially, their minds remain untouched by the complexities of life, such as stress or moral conundrums, enabling them to enjoy the world in its purest form. A relevant example is summer break, during which students indulge themselves in endless pleasure without fiscal concerns. Therefore, it’s understandable that many declare this phase to be the most blissful one of all.
Meanwhile, many find the later stage of life more fulfilling. During this period, people establish meaningful relationships, find their lifelong partners and build their own careers without the constraints of childhood dependency, seizing control of independent and simultaneously ideal lives. Furthermore, contributing to society and families brings people a sense of purpose, followed by fulfillment. On the other hand, seeking adrenaline produced by fleeting enjoyment, like most teenagers do, offers no enduring values. Also, while some people hate aging, which defaces their appearance, in fact, physical beauty pales in comparison with the experience, wisdom and inner depth that people earn over time. Nelson Mandela, for example, contributed to ending apartheid most greatly in his 70s onwards. Thus, becoming older, despite everything, is not a curse, but a fair trade that grants us invaluable merits.
Ultimately, both halves of life demonstrate various patterns of happiness— just like how a kaleidoscope’s mandala shifts with each glance. While earlier years are marked by freedom and excitement, the later ones provide people with purpose and meaningful development. Therefore, one shouldn’t idealize a single period, but enjoy every moment of life with gratitude— it is the greatest bless to be alive.