I read an article on the train the other day in Women's
Health, "Be Instantly Happy." I wondered how many people read
this article for the instantaneous cure.
My little pal, that's what I call her, is instantly happy.
How is this possible?
I often ask, "So, what did you like best about today ?"
I ask this of my eight year old niece whenever I am in route to
dropping her back off with my sister.
I have her normally once a month. I take pride in trying to make
her time with me exciting and fun. But really I don't have to.
Everything is exciting and fun to her.
The article I read made me think of her. She finds the pure joy
in the mundane and the not so mundane equally.
The simple examples I can give you is her delight when the
quarters come out from putting a five dollar bill in a coin change
machine at the laundry matt. Or the fact that she is always
surprised to find candy in the middle drawer of my refrigerator, as
if it were first time she discovered this treasure trove.
My favorite time with her is when she experiences something she
never has before. She often takes these little excursions to the
maximum, learning how to fish, fly a kite, play a guitar, deliver
presents in a Santa suit.
Nothing seems to be off limits with this little star.
If there is a willing teacher, she is a willing student. If
someone needs to be taught she will step in and teach or at least
think she is. Learning and teaching is in her happiness
guidelines.
Life as she imagines is worth discovering in all forms. Simply
fun. Simply, the path of happiness.
If you make those silly little chores, mini personal rewards for
yourself then maybe they are not so bad. If you discover the
positive in what you are doing you may become instantly happy, even
if it's just a little happier.
So back to the original question I ask Lindsay, "What did you
like best about today?"
Her answer every time to my question since she was able to
answer has always been with a smile… "EVERYTHING".
I smile back at her. Just the thought of her always makes me
instantly happy.