“Please notice when you are happy – and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, “If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.” – Kurt Vonnegut
There are days when my wife and I relish simply sitting in our yard on a beautiful spring day, listening to the peacefulness of nature and basking in the amazing glow of nature’s sunlight.
There are snowy nights when we sit bundled up in two or three blankets, while the glow of a nearby fire illuminates the room and two steaming cups of hot cocoa warm our souls.
There are moments when the two of us are cooking together in the kitchen – me usually making a mess and cleaning it up, while she utilizes her talents to create culinary masterpieces I eagerly enjoy.
While the above mentioned occurrences probably don’t seem like much to the rest of the world, to us they are the true magic of ordinary days. It’s during these times that we often turn to each other and say, “We have an amazing life together.”
The joys of life
It’s easy to assume that the joys of life come from grandiose moments and unexplored adventures. And while they certainly have their place in life, their longevity is short lived. You see happiness – true, unconditional happiness – does not come from a moment, but rather from the person you’re fortunate enough to share them with.
It’s taken me a long time to fully embrace this understanding, but my life is pretty amazing just the way it is. It may not be filled with grandiose moments and unexplored adventures, but it is filled with happiness – an invaluable and not easily attainable gift.
Frederick Keonig once remarked, “We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”
Look around you and see the happiness you’ve been blessed with and so often take for granted. Cherish it, appreciate it and proclaim from the top of your lungs, “If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.”
