Happiness

Lyrics: Ivey Hadebe Music: Ivey Hadebe Happiness felt like a story to me Something I heard but could not believe I chased it in mirrors, bottles, and noise In borrowed opinions, in make-believe joys I thought it lived just out of my reach In the future, in money, in what I would be But it slipped through the plans that I drew yeah it came when I stopped chasing you One quiet morning, no fire, no flame Just air in my lungs, I felt the change I was not winning, not even close But I finally felt what mattered most Happiness found me when I slowed my pace Stopped chasing heaven, stood in my space It is not loud, it does not pretend It feels like forgiving yourself in the end Happiness is not a place or a prize It is open hands and open eyes Yeah, it is here, it is now, it was here all along Happiness feels like coming home I found it in laughter, a little too loud In dancing alone when no one was around In scars that healed into lessons that stayed In saying I am proud of the choices I made It showed up in sunsets I’d almost missed In knowing my worth, no long checklist In peace over proving, rest over rush In learning that enough is enough I stopped counting who is ahead Stopped replaying the things I said Joy does not need to hide It stays when I live my truth inside Happiness found me when I slowed my pace Stopped chasing heaven, stood in my space It is not loud, it does not pretend It feels like forgiving yourself in the end Happiness is not a place or a prize It is open hands and open eyes Yeah, it is here, it is now, it was here all along Happiness feels like coming home I see it in moments I rushed before In letting go of needing more In saying I am tired, letting it be In showing some kindness back to me It lives in the wins no one sees In breathing through doubt and choosing peace I do not need proof to know I belong I feel it inside me, steady and strong I do not need tomorrow to promise more I do not need noise or an open door If this is the rhythm, the rise and fall I will feel every note, I will take it all Happiness lives in the air I breathe In letting myself just honestly be It is calm after storms I faced alone It is knowing inside I am already whole Happiness may not always stay But it is real every time I choose this way Yeah, it is here, it is now, it was mine all along Happiness feels like coming home