₦airaland Forum

I listened to a YouTube video by a Canada-based Nigerian who talked about her level of happiness in Canada. She asserted that if you were never happy in Nigeria, relocation might create an initial excitement for you, but it might fade away, and you would revert to your normal self. According to her, relocation hardly changes what you carry inside of you.

That is spot on, in my view. Yes, it exposes you to a world of opportunities, positivity, security, assurance, and comfort. But at some point, all these will become normal to you, and you will begin to hunger for more. According to the Hedonic Treadmill theory, human beings quickly adapt to new changes. Buying a new car or getting a promotion provides a temporary spike in joy, but your baseline level of happiness soon resets to its original state.

Real happiness comes from appreciating the little things that come your way. These are things that some people find meaningless and take for granted.

These include experiencing good weather, being in good health, enjoying a party with friends, having access to fresh air, the company of family members or friends, a basic holiday, the successful completion of an operation or project, being debt-free, passing an examination, getting a good night's sleep, enjoying a nice meal, taking a nice walk, listening to good music, watching a movie, having some me-time, making friends or forming new relationships, the birth of a child, supporting a friend or family member, and much more. These are simple activities that do not cost an arm and a leg.

In a developing country like Nigeria, and Africa as a whole, unhappiness is largely poverty-driven. People believe they will be happy when their pockets are loaded with money or when their financial fortunes improve. This seems true to an extent, but after a while, their tastes increase, and they find themselves needing more money. When your happiness is based on money, there is a possibility that you will be sad for a long time. This is because you can never get enough. This is similar to grabbing beach sand; the more sand you grab, the more you lose. This continues until you have nothing left in your palm.

In the age of social media, comparison has become the order of the day. We consciously and unconsciously compare ourselves with others connected to us. We tend to compare our lives with the highlights of other people's lives without knowing the full story. This is how people easily get misled.

Apart from this, much of the content on social media is fabricated. It is often created by people trying to fake it until they make it. I will share a personal story. Last year, in 2025, the trend of "Japada" (immigrants returning home) started in the UK. People began making videos about returning to Nigeria. I stumbled upon a YouTube video of a family talking about their return to Nigeria to "create wealth and opportunities" for people. They extolled the huge economic potential of Nigeria.

For a moment, I felt I was missing something. It triggered something in me. But as a minimalist, it was difficult to find a strong motivation to leave the UK. I knew something was amiss, but I could not figure out what it was. Fast forward to June 2026, and this family surfaced in Canada, prompting a huge backlash from their followers. I will not be shocked if this family starts complaining about Canada again in the near future.

My point here is that happiness must come with contentment.

After almost five years in the UK, I have concluded that life is simply the same everywhere. The reason it is hard to win an argument against Nigeria in this conversation is that things are unbelievably worse there, especially with the spate of insecurity and kidnappings for ransom by bandits.

People rely on food aid in the UK; some people are homeless; millions survive on benefits; and the cost of living could kill the living. Many believe the government does not care and has failed. Public resentment is high.

There is also the issue of trade-offs. When you gain something, you might lose something else. For example, someone who buys an exotic car will be celebrated. But that comfort may deprive the person of physical activities that might help them stay in shape.

I miss friends and family members. I miss some roadside foods and the feeling of Christmas, New Year, Sallah, and other celebrations in an African setting. I crave the original version of party jollof rice, prepared traditionally with firewood, alongside that he-goat that terrorised the neighbourhood for years. Its body odour must be intact.

On a more serious note, I wish my parents could always be there to help me with childcare. I follow the Facebook content of some local farmers in Nigeria who set traps for wild animals. I celebrate them when they make good catches and prepare them for food. I wish I could join them for a day and enjoy the experience. Tell me I am crazy.

At some point, I felt that marriage and having a family were my nirvana. I feel grateful to have one, but the responsibilities and commitments involved are immense and can be overwhelming. The sense of achievement is rewarding, but at times, I recall some memories from my days as a bachelor and lick my lips.

Happiness is confusing. It is like an unsteady cellular network that comes and goes. I guess it was on this note that economists distinguished between wants and needs. Needs are "must-haves," while wants are "nice-to-haves" that can be unlimited.

True happiness can be achieved, but only if you view it as a practice and a mindset rather than a permanent destination. Happiness is a skill, not a destination.

Whether in Lagos, London, Toronto, New York, or Sydney, the pursuit of happiness ultimately begins within. A change of location may improve your circumstances, but contentment remains an inside job.

eepeepook:
Anybody who read all that needs to find a means to make money. If the woman is based in Canada and unhappy, she can always return.

uche87:
https://www.facebook.com/thevillagetowncrier/posts/pfbid02j7HbYGEw6kj8imzevqXfTd1TS3MciP5YHg7bQEVMQSgsBfEiWiapufTJjPGJ19dql

uche87:
https://www.facebook.com/thevillagetowncrier/posts/pfbid02j7HbYGEw6kj8imzevqXfTd1TS3MciP5YHg7bQEVMQSgsBfEiWiapufTJjPGJ19dql

Rayjay45:
The write'up is about Bukunmi The Preacher.

Na eim make many of my folks in the UK Japada last year because those ones saw him on Tiktok pelu wifey leaving for Naija.

Today, man is in Canada with eim wifey balling

Ohraykon:
really bukunmi don go canada? Kai he scammed those other couples!

eepeepook:
Anybody who read all that needs to find a means to make money. If the woman is based in Canada and unhappy, she can always return.

eepeepook:
Anybody who read all that needs to find a means to make money. If the woman is based in Canada and unhappy, she can always return.

Julibet:
When you are kidnapped by bandits and you're in fear of your life, you will tell me which location would make you happier.

Just come online and be writing yen yen yen, oya come back to 9ja if everywhere na the same nau. Mtcheww..

Sccarrr:
I wonder how people always reason abroad na one kind happy place..even majority of oyinbo wey get d country dey depressed,talkless of u wey don dey used to a communal oriented society