This was the sort of moment that was so stupidly perfect you have to shake your head and laugh as your brain explodes with oxytocin. How is this real life?
In my residual ecstasy after I got home, I thought about any moment in my life I had ever been happier. The last couple of years had been a relentless cluster-eff to my heart which arguably in turn made my capacity to feel happiness expand. So, through a few philosophical justifications, I narrowed down the answer to no, I had not ever been happier than that night. So I did what any great thinker of our day does when they have a brilliant breakthrough and posted a status to Facebook:
"I have never been so happy. It's as simple as that."
And then I went to bed.
I woke up the next morning, having forgotten about my late night declaration, to an outpouring of love and support. Not just in the 60+ people who had liked the status or the half dozen who commented in the few short hours I slept (and it keeps growing 24 hours later), but in private messages from others who voiced more personal sentiments. I was a little surprised, and then quite touched.
I know I'm waxing all mushy here for something arguably quite small, but it was really special to see so many people happy for me. I think it's easy for us to see other's joy as an annoyance and keep scrolling through our never-ending feeds, but these people didn't. They multiplied the love and happiness by passing some more of it on instead of killing it. And that meant more to me than I expected or they could know. I don't know how I deserved such kind treatment, but I'm so thankful for it.
I am the happiest I've ever been and I feel so privileged to be living the life I am. To live in and photograph such a beautiful country. To have health. To have family. To have people in my life to laugh with. To have people that can rely on me with their pain. To have peace. To have challenges. To have good stories to read and movies to watch. To have a healing heart. To have delicious things to eat. To have a world waiting to be traveled. To have work that stretches and pushes my capabilities and patience. To have someone's hand to hold. Life is such a gift. All of it.
I know I'm waxing all mushy here for something arguably quite small, but it was really special to see so many people happy for me. I think it's easy for us to see other's joy as an annoyance and keep scrolling through our never-ending feeds, but these people didn't. They multiplied the love and happiness by passing some more of it on instead of killing it. And that meant more to me than I expected or they could know. I don't know how I deserved such kind treatment, but I'm so thankful for it.
I am the happiest I've ever been and I feel so privileged to be living the life I am. To live in and photograph such a beautiful country. To have health. To have family. To have people in my life to laugh with. To have people that can rely on me with their pain. To have peace. To have challenges. To have good stories to read and movies to watch. To have a healing heart. To have delicious things to eat. To have a world waiting to be traveled. To have work that stretches and pushes my capabilities and patience. To have someone's hand to hold. Life is such a gift. All of it.
It's so great when people realize gratitude for something that makes them happy. You are indeed very lucky. I have been thinking about this same stuff lately and I am so happy to be in Germany traveling and living the dream!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you! I love you so much and adore you and I hope we will share lots of time together somewhere in the world one day :) Thanks for being so wonderful and reminding me of all the beauties of the world. You are an angel! Love, love, love!
ReplyDelete