What do people pursue in their whole lives? Frankly speaking, it’s nothing but happiness. But where does this happiness come from? I believe that family and friends are the greatest sources of our lifelong happiness.

First, let’s talk about the emotional support. Family members have been caring about us wholeheartedly since we were born. When we were kids and got hurt by falling or bumping into something, we would cry our eyes out. And our parents would surely rush to us immediately, soothing us and blowing on the wounds. Their anxious looks and caring words seemed to have some magic power, which could make us stop crying right away.

At night, when we were going to sleep, Mom would gently pat us on the side of the bed while humming a little tune, making us feel that the whole world was quiet and gentle.

When we grew up and got wronged at work, we would invite our old friends to a restaurant. With a few glasses of cold beer, we would pour out our grievances, complaining about the boss’s being difficult and colleagues’ being petty. Our friends would echo our complaints and pat their chests, saying “I’m here for you”. Immediately, the pent-up feelings in our hearts would disappear, and we would feel that we had the courage to face life again, just like finding a shelter to hide in during a storm.

The elders in the family have much more experience and knowledge. They have “crossed more bridges than we have walked roads”. When I was learning to ride a bicycle as a kid, I got bruises on my knees and elbows. Dad was holding the bicycle from behind, shouting, “Don’t be afraid. Look ahead. Keep steady.” When I finally rode quite a distance unsteadily and looked back, I found that he had already let go. But it was his perseverance that taught me the importance of persistence. When I had difficulties with my homework, Mom would patiently accompany me, inspiring my thinking bit by bit and teaching me to be patient and find solutions when doing things.

Friends are like teammates who fight alongside us. When participating in a competition, we would be so nervous that our calves were trembling. Our teammates would hold our hands and shout “Come on!” We would encourage each other, check for and fill in the gaps, and with the strength of the team, we would overcome one obstacle after another.

When starting a business, if the capital turnover was not enough, friends would without hesitation take out their own savings to help us out. They would also help us expand our network and offer suggestions, accompanying us through the toughest times. Without them, I really don’t know if I could have survived.

When we were under great pressure in life and feeling down, when we returned home and heard a few kind words from the elders, it was like being shone on by the sun, and the gloom would disappear. When going on a trip with friends, standing on the top of a mountain and shouting loudly into the wind to let out all the troubles in our hearts, with friends laughing and joking beside us, at that moment, we would feel that nothing was a problem anymore. It turns out that happiness is so simple and has always been around us. Family and friends are the eternal “treasures” on our path to happiness and are worth cherishing all our lives.