Yesterday was one of those dazzling Miami days that just bowl me over. The sky was bright blue. I mean slap-your-face-bright. You couldn’t miss it. The temperature was 82° but it felt less because there was a pleasing breeze and the humidity was low. All the swimmers came to the pool early, which means the old folks and me. We all remarked how perfect the day was, how perfect the water was. Perfect was the word of the day.
Overnight it rained, unexpectedly for me, predictably for those who watched the forecast. I always find it difficult to imagine weather I am not experiencing directly. Intellectually I can recall, but I can’t invoke the sense memory of a different atmosphere. I am always caught off-guard, thinking, Oh yeah, this is what it feels like, when a new front moves in or I travel to a different climate.
The rain cooled the sunshine, swept perfect away to the Atlantic Ocean. I hope the birds and fish like it. We were left with clouds and puddles. Blue turned gray.
But do you know what I thought?
I thought, Oh this cooler temperature is a welcome change. Let me revel in it because in the real summer, we don’t get this kind of relief. It’s a great day for a jog, good because my hair needs a break from the chlorine. Oh, and now I don’t need to bother watering my garden. I can continue to neglect it, but now without guilt.
And then I stopped myself cold. Stunned at the moment.
I realized I was in the midst of living a truly happy life.
When did this happen? I wondered. When did happiness become effortless?
I knew the answers to those questions as I asked them. I just wanted to sit in awe for a few minutes to marvel at the contrast between before and after. There were times in my life when lollipops couldn’t make me crack a smile. Now I feel equally content in sunshine or rain. It doesn’t even phase me.
My formula for happiness is simple:
Begin the day in meditation. End the day in gratitude.
Happiness fills the in-betweens.
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