An Artist’s Pursuit to Happiness
Chapter 1

 Henry David Thoreau said “Happiness is like a butterfly. The more you chase it, the more it eludes you. But if you turn your attention to other things, It comes and sits softly on your shoulder.” I have lived a care free life regardless of how things, whether it’s good or bad, revolves around me. I have lived with the principal that everything happens for a reason and that we all are meant for greater things in life.

 My name is Bard. I was born and raised in Brunei. I’m an only child, a miracle child. Let’s pause for a second and let see if you can solve this riddle of mine: ‘I was born 7 month, on the 7th month, the 7th child, the only child, the only son.” Now, give yourself time to figure it out. Have you got the answer? Well, the answer is this: I was born 7 month, most normal children are born 9 months but I was 7. So, that makes me a premature child. On the 7th month, which is July and finally 7th child, only child, only son. Now, the last one might be a bit more confusing. It means that my mom miscarriage 6 times before she had me and underwent C section after I was born, hence the only child, the only son. 777, 7 is the number of perfection, as God created everything in 6 days and rested on the 7th, and three 7's is symbolic for the Trinity, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That’s what a pastor told me when I had a conversation with him while I was waiting for my friend in front of her church. Well, miracle child or not, I don’t feel any different compared to anyone else. My life is like a rollercoaster ride, at times I’m soaring high and there are times I drop down but no matter what, I am always thankful for everything I had.

 I remember, ever since I was a kid that the only thing I would pray for every day is ‘All I want in life is to be happy’. Let’s go back to when I was a child. Now, since that I was an only child, I tend to preoccupy myself with activities such as art and at times, I would end up doing some daredevil stunts that would have given my mom a heart attack. I remembered when I was climbing this hill in front of our house and found an ironing board. I took the ironing board and slid down the hill with it. That’s just one of many shenanigans that I had put myself into. I was also bullied when I was a kid. I was once peed on at school protecting myself by rolling up into a ball beside a tree. I moved from one school to another. Sometimes, at night, I would climb the rooftop and just sit there to look at the stars. Something about the night sky and stars calms my soul. At a young age, I found the meaning of love and I had gambled and almost sacrificed my life for it. I have a small scar on top of my left eyebrow from saving someone’s life. I went to Camberwell Kindergarten in Australia. I was still bullied there. The only friends I had was a handicapped boy named Daniel and an Asian kid named David. Regardless of all the bullying and torment I had to go through, I still found ways to enjoy myself and live life. As I moved back to Brunei, a few years later, Daniel moved and became my neighbor. We were 14 years old. He had a sister named Michelle whom I had a crush on for quite a while. We would play around the neighborhood after school playing soccer, biking, playing video games or just walk to the nearest supermarket to have some ice cream. You might be thinking by now, “What does this have to do with sacrificing your life?” Ok ok, here it comes…hehe

 ~ next chapter ~