Looking back to my Port-Harcourt trip last year, my happiest times were from the simple moments that I shared with my friends. Surprisingly it wasn't from the big event that me and my friends were excited about. It was not when we went to the bole festival because that was a mid experience in a way but that is a story for another day.

It was as simple as when we were in the car on our way to Next while listening to the wind and the cool breeze of Port Harcourt hitting my face.

Do you know that moment of realization that hits you in a glimpse that you truly feel happy? I remember that moment vividly. I was in the passenger seat, looking at the beautiful city, thinking of what serving as a youth corper would feel like here. It would be far from home but that has never been an issue.

It was as simple as when me and my friends walked down the street on Elekahia searching for food at night while talking to each other. It was buying newspaper-wrapped meat not knowing what meat it was. Walking freely and sharing inside jokes, was all the camaraderie I had hoped for while going to uni.

It was as simple as waking up and just being around people that made life seem perfect and worth waiting out. It was getting my face painted and jumping on the trampoline without a care in the world.

It was me falling face flat on the highway and hearing Precious laugh while helping me back up, I wish we caught that on video.

Those were not the moments I was expecting to look forward to when I went on that trip, but it turns out, that the insignificant moments were my favorite ones. The little inside jokes, the humming in the car, those lightweight conversations, and the walk back to the hotel at night, were the joys that came unexpectedly.

This brings me to the realization that some of my happiest moments are not from the big achievements or events in my life. It was from the little moments I shared with my friends.

Happiness can come from anywhere, especially from the most unexpected moments.

We don’t need to wait for the weekend to experience joy. We don’t need to find a lover to feel content. We don’t need to take those trips to experience fun.