I regret not posting these pictures a lot sooner than I should have. This shot was taken from The Limited's window display last Christmas. As soon as I walked past their store, I couldn't help but take out my camera in the middle of a busy, crowded mall, which really was quite an accomplishment. Let me explain why...
Imagine Cherry Creek mall during the holidays and this store right across the epicenter of where hyper, smelly and hungry kids in their raucous screams of laughter, running rowdily around over-sized bacon, sunny side-up eggs, waffles, and other breakfast-type germ-laden play things. All at the same time, aggressive and impatient moms with their massive, bulky strollers, draped with shopping bags on either side, trying to maneuver around this madness. And there I am, in the thick of it all, disrupting this already chaotic intersection by stopping traffic to take a picture of some window display. Probably not the picture of happiness at that very moment. But I had to... because within seconds after reading that, I went from an annoyed, get-me-the-hell-out-of-here mood to a sudden state of happiness. Cheesy, right? Well, it's about to get worse.
This message touches every single point of what I believe happiness is about. It begins with you and it comes from inside. It's making the most of every day and appreciating everyone in your life. Happiness is being with friends. And yes, it is also most definitely about a great outfit.
Happiness can be about the little things. A quiet walk, a rewarding run, a good shopping day, an easy morning drive to work or a full seven hours worth of sleep. It's a great pair of jeans that flatters you in all the right places, fabulous shoes to go with your outfit, a rockin' 'do that makes every picture you take frame-worthy. Happiness is listening to good tunes, a cheap flight, an inspiring book, discovering a good restaurant and an impressive dessert menu that completes the whole experience. Whatever puts a smile on your face and makes your heart sing, that's what happiness is.
But obviously, it is also much more than that.
As important as friends are, happiness is also being with family. It's making the most of your time with them and making sure, in whatever way you know how and can, they know that they're loved and thought of. It's appreciating everyone in your life, no matter their faults or shortcomings. It's the shoulder you can depend and lean on, the ear that never hesitates to listen, the hand that always reaches out for help and the heart that sympathizes and understands before it criticizes and judges. Happiness is being able to share that laughter, the one that comes out from deep down in your belly - uncontrollable and genuine - to the point that it makes you shed a tear. But when those tears come from a place that hurts, happiness is also knowing that you have these people that, without a doubt, you can count on and call on for whatever reason it may be; whether it's to share bad news, to complain, to confide in, or for you to just simply talk and for them to listen.
But above all, happiness comes from within you. That's the most important kind of happiness that everyone must try to attain. But for some, the sad, unfair and painful realities of life has its tendency of getting in the way and letting you down more than it should. And try as you might, looking at the positive side is not as easy as it seems. As infectious a laughter can be, so can negativity. It's a constant and conscious effort... and that's a choice you have to make every single day. Choosing happiness. I haven't mastered this art but in trying times, I certainly put my best effort to lean on the side of positivity and ultimately, happiness. I'm not perfect; that's no secret. But it's the effort and choices you make with genuine intentions of attaining this goal. That also counts for something, right?
So today, the choices I made to make for a happy Sunday was a quiet brunch at a favorite French restaurant with a good friend, a nice long walk/jog, some much needed laundry, a healthy dinner, soy chocolate milk for my sweet tooth and most of all, coming across these pictures. I mean, seriously... if this doesn't put a smile on your face, then what will?
Now that, makes me happy... :)
