Happy is he

who feels

no burden

carrying 

on with ease 

juggling

troubles

while flying

on a silver

trapeze

and...

Happy is she

who feels 

no panic

dancing

unvarnished

channeling

dilemmas

and antics

from the attic

and...

Happy are we

who feel

no regrets

remembering

to forget all 

doubts and

what is past 

or up next

in the shelter 

of our selves

#Happy #Challenge

Sometimes it's tough to be a good parent and put a child's welfare before their happiness.

Having to say no, no, no, so often to cute little crying faces is tough.

When my kids were little one of the things I was most strict about was their diet. It was up to me to raise healthy children and I did not take that responsibility lightly. Eating candy and junk food was permitted in limited quantity only on holidays and birthdays.

One day after I had said no, one too many times, I was even sick of myself. I saw myself as one of them and I didn't like me very much. I know. I'm not supposed to be my kids best friend. I'm their parent, but can't we throw caution to the wind once and awhile and create a happy memory?

"Hey kids! I've got a great idea. You know how you hate it when I say no all the time about junk food? What if once a year we pick a date, jump in the car, go to the grocery store and you can buy whatever you want and eat as much of it as you like. Let's call it National Treat Day. Sounds like a holiday, right? And treats are allowed on holidays, right?"

The three of started jumping for joy, laughing out loud, and then they rolled around on the floor smacking into each other like bumper cars.

"Really Mom? Really? When?"

"Now!" I said. "Let's go."

Off we went to our local grocery store. It was like a supermarket sweepstakes game show; how much stuff can you throw in the cart in under five minutes running up and down the candy and cookie isle. I had difficulty keeping them together, but I managed and I have to say, I was every bit as excited as they were. They were not greedy. They agreed on items they would share and would ask each time they picked something if it was okay, even though the rules of the game were a free for all. Yes, yes, yes, I said until the cart was full.

Let's see, I remember Doritos, Skittles, gummy bears, rainbow sherbet, Twinkies, chips ahoy cookies, Vienna fingers and M&M's. There was more, but that was top of the list.

When we got home they were not shy about digging in. The only thing I heard was the rustle of bags and a congenial conversation about the intricacies of extreme junk fooding.

"This was the best day of my life," said my middle child before she threw up, but she still went to bed with a smile on her face in spite of the ache in her belly.

"Thank you," They all said, numerous times. When I told them we would bring what was left to the church down the block, when I saw them slowing down, they said, "Do we have to Mom?" "Yes we have to." And that was it. National Treat Day was over.

We marked the calender and kept the ritual going until they started leaving for college. The day will come and go now and we will make mention of it from time to time and laugh out loud. Today, all three of them, no longer prompted by me, keep to a strict healthy diet. Perhaps I didn't do such a bad job instilling healthy habits in them, in spite of National Treat Day, and because of this I think we all learned a valuable lesson. There are times in life to say no and times in life to say YES.

I refused his desire for a picture of my face.

Unrelenting, he asked on.

I gave in, and felt too tired to fix my hair or find a nice angle.

I sent the picture,

immediately regreting the truth that lie in it.

I was disgusting.

It was simply the way my body just was.

I felt myself curl inward.

He replied,

“You look super adorable and wow, you truly look beautiful.”

I smiled, but forced my lips to once again

turn grim.

I texted back, “no you’re too kind.”

And that was it.

He carried on,

not willing to hear any sort of self-hate.

Told me why

my soul and my mind and my heart

and my thighs and my stomach and my arms

are all beautiful.

I don’t love the way I look,

but that night,

I took another glance at that picture I sent,

and thought,

hey,

maybe I am

pretty.

Happiness is the smell of wet Earth after a rain

The feeling of cold fresh air blowing through my face

As droplets slip off of the damp leaves and gently slide onto my skin

Happiness is watching that first sprouts of spring,

Breathing a new life of color and beauty all around

Happiness is walking bare foot on the grass

Feeling the little tingles as the grass brushes under my feet

Happiness is waking to cheerful singing of birds

Watching the Sun rise in the red violet skies

Gazing at the white clouds as they gently pass by

As I lay on my bed, pondering the past and the future

Happiness is growing old surrounded by loved ones

As we witness the little miracles of nature everyday

Happiness is to watch my kids grow

Into thoughtful adults who care

There is much more to life than our ourselves and our needs

Only if we have the time to stop and look at the big picture

The happiness that nature brings

#Simpleliving