I was lying on hammock tonight, big heavy clouds over head, the wind blowing through the trees above my head and the grass under my foot as I pushed myself. I thought, This is happiness.
I am full, but not too full. I am warm, but not hot. All my people are home and around me and everyone is, if not perfectly happy, they are calm. I have clean windows (thank you random window cleaning men). A cleanish house. I have had hours with my kids at the pool (perhaps for the last time in a long time) and hold the title of walking the longest underwater on my hand record. Yes. A happy husband (a thing to be treasured). A quiet evening. A moment to just sit and be still.
Yes.
This.
Is.
Happiness.
I feel the blessing of this like a comforting weight around my shoulders. I know so well what it is like to feel the absence of happiness. I know what it is like to feel fear, worry, hurt, sorrow, pain, anguish, regret, and anger. So I know how precious this moment is. I know right now, there are people I love so much, who are feeling any number of these things. I feel for them. I pray for them. I pray I can help them. And I pray that even in small ways, while they are traveling a bit of a lonely road, that happiness will pop in now and then and ease their burdens.
It is rare. Precious. Priceless.
So next time you feel it . . . happiness . . . welcome it. Embrace it. Stop whatever you're doing and soak it in. Marinate your soul in the rich healing beauty of happiness and let it mend you.
I used to be afraid of it. It would flicker in and out and I thought, Oh, you inconsistent friend. I can't trust you . . . you're too fleeting. So I took it as a portent of worrisome things to come.
Silly silly me.
Now, I know what it is.
A gift.
Make friends with happiness.
Even if he's fickle and fleeting, he's a darn good time when he's around. And I'm telling you, I really like having a good time. It's awesome. I feel light, free, and like I can finally see clearly.
So . . . when next you feel happy, I say, throw your head back and laugh. Hug and kiss. Dance. Set the weight of your responsibilities down and feel the lightness of beautiful possibilities. Stretch out your limbs and let Happiness flow in. This moment of joy is the most important moment of your life . . .
Trust me. I know.
I am full, but not too full. I am warm, but not hot. All my people are home and around me and everyone is, if not perfectly happy, they are calm. I have clean windows (thank you random window cleaning men). A cleanish house. I have had hours with my kids at the pool (perhaps for the last time in a long time) and hold the title of walking the longest underwater on my hand record. Yes. A happy husband (a thing to be treasured). A quiet evening. A moment to just sit and be still.
Yes.
This.
Is.
Happiness.
I feel the blessing of this like a comforting weight around my shoulders. I know so well what it is like to feel the absence of happiness. I know what it is like to feel fear, worry, hurt, sorrow, pain, anguish, regret, and anger. So I know how precious this moment is. I know right now, there are people I love so much, who are feeling any number of these things. I feel for them. I pray for them. I pray I can help them. And I pray that even in small ways, while they are traveling a bit of a lonely road, that happiness will pop in now and then and ease their burdens.
It is rare. Precious. Priceless.
So next time you feel it . . . happiness . . . welcome it. Embrace it. Stop whatever you're doing and soak it in. Marinate your soul in the rich healing beauty of happiness and let it mend you.
I used to be afraid of it. It would flicker in and out and I thought, Oh, you inconsistent friend. I can't trust you . . . you're too fleeting. So I took it as a portent of worrisome things to come.
Silly silly me.
Now, I know what it is.
A gift.
Make friends with happiness.
Even if he's fickle and fleeting, he's a darn good time when he's around. And I'm telling you, I really like having a good time. It's awesome. I feel light, free, and like I can finally see clearly.
So . . . when next you feel happy, I say, throw your head back and laugh. Hug and kiss. Dance. Set the weight of your responsibilities down and feel the lightness of beautiful possibilities. Stretch out your limbs and let Happiness flow in. This moment of joy is the most important moment of your life . . .
Trust me. I know.
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