His angelic voice startled me to attention. Joy burst from the sound of his giggle. “I’m flying a butterfly,” the little boy who wasn’t more than five years old excitedly shouted from the backseat of his parent’s car. I glanced out my driver side window and our eyes locked. He was strapped into his booster seat and his eyes lit up as he realized I heard him. His window was open and his outstretched arm barely extended beyond the door frame. As the car quickly passed, I could see his little hand clutching a paper butterfly that flapped like magic in the wind.
In that brief moment my body and mind came alive. I wanted to shout to the little boy, “Yes, you are flying that butterfly.” I wanted to lock knowing eyes with his parents and tell them they are doing a wonderful job. Mostly though, I wanted to thank this little boy for waking me up and reminding me that there is magic in the smallest of moments.
As a goal setter and creative that dreams big, I often need to be reminded that true happiness isn’t about the highlight reel or list of accomplishments. Happiness isn’t about never failing or finding external success and validation. Happiness is found in between the chaos during the mundane routines of our lives.
Happiness is making breakfast and choosing to sit down and eat it with your children.
Happiness is emptying your child’s backpack in May and finding a spare pair of winter gloves tucked in a pocket that she proudly points out she put there in case she lost her other pair.
Happiness is coming home to your puppy who wants to lick your face off.
Happiness is putting the kids to bed and watching your favorite TV show with your husband.
Happiness is seeing your college-aged son walk through the door after weeks away.
Finding happiness is as simple and sometimes as impossibly magical as flying a butterfly out the back seat of your car. You just have to allow the wind to take you.
I was inspired to come back to the site today, just because. And I love this post. It was exactly what I needed <3