When I got up this morning I thought “I need to figure out what makes me happy today and make sure to document it.” My type-A personality immediately turned my 100 happy days pledge into a task. I started putting pressure on myself to take a meaningful, artistic photo because in my mind I was in competition with everyone else participating.
And then I stopped myself.
This is a big deal. It means I have gained self-awareness, an ability to be present instead of chasing an illusory future moment were everything will be perfect. I started doing my crazy thing and then I stopped. I had breakfast with my baby boy. We shared a bagel with cream cheese while I tickled his feet and made him giggle.
This is what I love about my little snapshot. It isn’t glamourous or arty or technically interesting in any way, but it reminds me of that moment. The simplicity and beauty of that moment. The photo only shows part of my Mother’s Day mug. It is a photo of both kids in the bath, covered with bubbles, and it reads “Happy Mother’s Day… and thanks for washing our butts.” And that is everyday happiness. Two bubbly kids in the bath and a mom who is happy to be there to wash their butts.
My experience with my first day of the 100 happy days challenge reminded me of one of my favorite quotes:
And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.
~John Steinbeck, East of Eden
Indeed. And do good, too.