My top 10 reasons to be happy - Sneha Namanandi

Life: The first reason to be happy is being alive and that’s the most important thing. I am alive, so can do everything I am doing right now in my life. Whatever I can achieve is because I am alive and that is reason enough to be happy.

Family: I have an amazingly supportive family and they have been with me throughout my journey. My family has always supported me through the highs and lows. A strong, supportive family will pick you up on down days and always make you feel happy. I know that I can always count on them. They are a huge blessing in my life.

My dogs: Being around dogs makes me happy. The two that are closest to my heart are Maui and Miguel. Dogs are just precious and that desire to be around them led me to open a pet station, so I can be around them. We also have camps to feed strays and it’s great to be able to make a difference. I share such a good vibe with them and am sure I was a dog in my last birth. They have never been aggressive towards me. If any dog looks at me with love or accepts food I offer them, I feel so overwhelmed and happy.

Sports: There are some positive decisions in my life that have helped shape me and choosing to take up various sports is near the top of that list. Playing hockey, badminton and throw ball has really helped me in my life. I have had various opportunities to play for clubs, but more importantly, sports helped me maintain my fitness and fire the competitive spirit within me. So that association with sports is joyous.

Right mindset: It may sound strange but choosing to be happy is a reason to be happy and that is a root for other happiness to grow. I have that kind of temperament where I look for the positive in every negative, starting with the thought that difficult is not impossible. I always want to learn and like that so many come to me for advice. I try to evolve and grow with each experience, but it all starts with choosing happiness and positivity.

Empathy: I have been raised in a family rooted in emotions, values and sentiments, which has gifted me with empathy and that is a great thing to have. I am glad to have that quality in-built within me. It helps me be a better, kinder, and a more generous person, which is a natural root to happiness. That is perhaps why I am drawn towards looking after animals and helping those around me.

Gratitude: Being thankful for my blessings and not taking anything for granted is a great source of happiness. I am thankful to the universe for gifting me all I have and helping me to overcome obstacles in life. I am thankful to the universe and those close to me for saving me and preventing me from falling into the well. I am grateful for each new day and feel happy when I think about all I have in my life.

Pet Station: Being able to start my own brand and café called Pet Station to help animals, especially dogs, gives me great joy. I love coffee and I love dogs, so being able to open something that combines the two is wonderful. Pet Station helps animals in need, but also brings people together. I am glad that I could achieve this in my life.

Being decisive: I am happy to have the ability to make a quick decision, rather than waiting for tomorrow. I want to live in the moment, so I don’t overthink and spend time worrying. I just take quick decisions and start executing what needs to be done immediately. I know priorities, times, and everything else are constantly changing, so I believe in taking action. It’s important because you never know what’s going to happen next.

Kindness: Seeing kindness and positivity in this world makes me happy. That inspires me to always give my best.

Sneha Namanandi is a Mumbai-based actress, whose projects have included drama serial Ragini MMS Returns, feature film Torbaaz and popular music video Main Jis Din Bhulaa Du. She is also the founder of The Pet Station.

Visit Instagram: @snehanamanandi