He is annoying.
He’s exactly as you’d think.
Okay, annoying needs to be qualified here. By ‘annoying’ I mean that he is just as joyful in person.
This weekend saw Gurdeep Pandher from the Yukon visit us here in Stratford, Ontario. It was a stop along the way as Gurdeep continues his (completely mad when you stop and think about it) cross country tour.
We spent the day filming various scenes in town and then had an open event for the community to come and learn some Bhangra dancing and meet Gurdeep. About 200 people showed up in the autumn chill and threatening rain. Impressive.
Gurdeep, for those of you unfamiliar, lives in a cabin just outside of Whitehorse, Yukon. He has electricity but no running water. He doesn’t have to live there, but he chose to live there. Which I guess makes the completely mad cross country tour seem slightly less mad in comparison.
We made sure his hotel room had running water.
During the pandemic awfulness, Gurdeep starting posting a video of himself each day Bhangra dancing from various locations in the Yukon.
They were simple videos (though had some great scenery and the occasional cool drone shot) but they conveyed joy in such a pure way that it was hard not smile when watching them.
Shannon and I were lucky enough to spend some time in his cabin in the woods and make a video this past spring. When we were on our way to meet I was positive I would get a peak behind the curtain. You know, find out that Gurdeep was a real bastard at heart and this whole joy thing was a sham.
Turns out he’s legit.
He’s not superhuman. I can see and hear the humanness in his stories. There’s hurt there. There’s maybe some regret. He’s a real person and not some joy machine.
However what’s also apparent is the notion that he’s figured out a very valuable secret… a cosmic loophole in the search for happy.
Nobody owes you happiness.
If you want happiness, you’ve got to generate it yourself.
If you really want to be happy, make other people happy.
The good news is, we’re fully capable of doing just that.
Pause for a minute and think of the things that have gone right for you.
Anything. Your hair today. How the leaves are turning colour.
A joke you laughed at. How someone else’s success is making you proud.
Anything.
The videos Gurdeep makes may result in joy for others, but he’s doing it, at least initially, for himself. It makes him happy.
Generating joy and goodwill and knowing that will be so powerful that it will spread out to others on its own.
Stop waiting for other people to make you happy.
Everybody is dealing with a bag full of issues of their own and they owe you nothing. They may need you more than you need them.
Generate joy, hope and positivity… as the super annoyingly amazing and wonderful Gurdeep says.
Also, make sure you stretch before and after Bhangra dancing.
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Thanks so much for this really important reminder/piece of insight. Too many people don't seem to be happy until their unhappy - and I've found that to be just toxic. I've printed your wise words and will display them on my desk as a reminder to pay attention to the happy moments. And to make more for me and for others.