Me – “You know, I really like what you said the other day about you not being worth a certain amount of money; that you’re worth Joy.”
She nodded
Me – “You understand that nothing is more important than happiness.”
Her – “It’s the most important.”
Me – “Well, maybe Love is more important.”
Her – “That’s the same as Joy.”
Me – “Yeah?”
She nodded yes as though she was pulling from a deeper knowing.
In the first edition of ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul,’ there is a lady quoted who was in her 90s then and surely passed on by now who said, “If I could do my life over I’d seek nothing but moments and more moments.” I think about that from time to time. I’m working on emphasizing that in my daily journey with my daughter, among the driving, the “pick up your shoes” and everything else.
This morning, we were on the way to school. I was in an especially happy, inspired and giddy mood having been up since 2:30am and feeling good. I was so happy that it was annoying, in fact.
At one point, in the car, we both laughed about something silly
Me – “There. That. Moments like that shared between people where there is laughter. That’s what life is about. Don’t you think?”
She agreed.
It was just five seconds out of our day.
I heard it once said that people who seek happiness genuinely fail as they define it as this big thing that is conditional. If, instead, we’d put the focus on generating (not waiting for) fun-loving moments with the people in our daily lives, we’d experience more happiness.
Might be true.
She agreed, and when it comes to deeper life wisdom, I tend to trust the instincts of a child over books and ‘learned’ adults.
Moments
Moments
Moments
Don’t wait for them to show up.
Generate them.
Maybe it’s not the entire formula, but it’s certainly part of it.
She knows her true value
We were at the grocery store waiting to check out. I had my debit card out and ran it under her arm pit-
Me – “Let’s see how much you’re worth…
She waited…
Me – “Trillions! Trillions!”
Her – “I’m not worth anything.”
Her comment horrified me as it’s so opposite from the message she has heard from me her entire life and how she speaks about herself, usually.
Me – “You’re worth trillions!”
But she interrupted to explain…
Her – “I’m not worth money. I’m worth Joy.”
If it had been a competition on who could say the wisest thing, once again, point for the child. No way to top that.
She repeated it again as she twirled off…
Her – “I’m worth Joy… Joy!”
Dinner was done, and I was cleaning dishes. Being aware of the time on a fading school-night, I felt the need to keep her focused.
Me – “Honey, get your dessert now because it’s almost bedtime.”
Her – “I know, I just want to give you a huggie.”
For a brief moment, I thought about how it was unnecessary as she’d be wrapped in my nightly snuggles in just a few minutes. But it’s pretty hard to say no to your child asking for a hug.
Me – “Ok.”
As I took her in my arms, she laid her head on my shoulder and let out a long, happy sigh. Then she looked up at me with soft, smiling eyes.
Her – “Your love makes my spirit brighten.”
I was certainly glad I hadn’t let my adult task-mode get the better of me and brushed her off. Those may be some of the sweetest words I’ll hear in this lifetime.
