“I am happy with my life. I have a wife, I have a family, I have a house to live in, we are all healthy and I have a job to help provide for everyone. I didn’t have that before. I came from nothing, but I have reached until here and I don’t want anything more.” Says Tsering Wangdak the self-proclaimed “Happiest man from Mustang” when asked about his outlook on life, now after twenty-two years of living in America. 

Tsering Wangdak, born and raised in Mustang, Nepal, immigrated to America in 1998 with hopes of achieving the American dream and came a long way to now working for the Roofers Local Union No. 8. 

Looking back into his life he recalls the first 13 jobs he worked in the United States after he migrated here in 2002; including: dishwasher, security guard, construction worker, cashier, and much more- throughout New York City. Still, he says nothing compares to the struggles he faced before his arrival here. 

“My life somewhat prepared me for America. I grew up in a house where we had to get running water from a well that was shared by, maybe 8 other families. I left my education before I could even learn to speak English and left my home before I was an adult. That is how I lived when I was younger. But even with that background, I was still able to work in foreign countries trying to communicate with people in their language, pay my parents debt, and come to America with the little money I had left.”

Now, Wangdak may just be another immigrant story, but unlike other rags to riches stories told in America, Wangdak has been able to achieve happiness and self-actualization without succumbing to America’s “more is better” ideology. 

“Many Americans that I met when I first arrived, always wanted to work hard to make more money. They [Americans] work hard not because they liked their work but for more money. Everyone needs money, but what do you need it for? All you need is good health and find happiness within yourself and your family. Work for me, is to keep me busy and to make sure I have food for my family. I do not look for a big house or better car that isn’t necessary.”

Wangdak may have well been manifesting his dreams well before it became the trend of Tiktok. Wangdak’s secret to positivity throughout all his life has been, finding inner peace with himself and others through meditation and yoga every morning and constantly keeping himself busy throughout the day. 

“Busy does not mean only [doing] work. Time is important. You should not waste time doing just anything, spend your time doing things that you like and what will help you or make you better. On my off day, I meditate in the morning, before breakfast, and then spend the morning having conversations with my family and wife. I always make sure to check around the house for work, gardening, or exercise. I go out on walks with my wife or go out to grocery shopping, meet friends, volunteer, play archery, I do not like sitting down” jokes Wangdak. 

During this time of uncertainty and restlessness, many of us were forced to take a step back and reevaluate our mental health and the state of livelihood as the pandemic forced the world to take a pause. Wangdak’s story provides an eye for optimism and shares an important lesson to those feeling lost and hopeless.

Wangdak shares with us that self-acceptance and finding 

As hard as it may be, with time, patience, and keeping your priorities close, your reality will soon come in line with your dreams. 

Until then, if there is one thing that I have learned from listening to Wangdak’s story, is that the value of one’s time is a reflection of your own self-acceptance and understanding. Although our lives have been forced to slow down, one must not succumb to external factors and instead use the newfound time to do more and look at the world in a positive light.