My eight-year-old son lives to be mischievous, but when he’s falling asleep or even waking up, he can’t suppress the urge to cozy up beside you and become an unconditional hug monster. (“I want to hug your nose,” he said to me as he drifted off on Saturday night.)
My soon-to-be 12-year-old daughter is already practicing to be a moody teen, but this weekend she borrowed a copy of The Hunger Games from a friend solely because I hadn’t read it yet and she really wanted me to. Last Wednesday, after meeting after meeting after meeting after meeting after meeting at work, my wife came home, rallied and cooked the most perfect slab of salmon for all of us.
What do these tidbits all have in common?
After a number of false starts dwelling on some stressful challenges at work and at home this month, I realized that I would feel better simply by sharing a few appreciations, however trite or common. I’m no longer surprised when I inventory my life and find things like hug monsters, father-daughter book-sharing and roasted salmon a la family at the very top of my tree of happiness. Just fortunate.
—Eric Messinger
