As I wake (far too early) this morning, after a crazy Christmas period (did I mention there’s also a family wedding today??), I am smiling because of something the Little Mister has started to do.
He has learnt the word “happy”. It came out of nowhere a couple of days ago when he pointed out a couple of characters in a book who were smiling. I asked him to show me a happy face and he gave me the most hilarious, exaggerated, gorgeous grin. His eyes wide and his mouth turned up. I thought it was so cute, but thought not much more of it. All he’d done is learn a new word and besides, I think almost everything he does is cute because I am a biased wreck of a mother. Right?
The Little Mister has started to insist that I record moments of his day on my phone through photos or video (oh no – not a little show off AT ALL). Like last night when his dad was away at bath time. He knows that when one of us is away, we send each other a cute bath time photo (of the Little Mister not ourselves haha). It’s a way of connecting as a little family even when we’re not in the same place, living the same little rituals together. The Little Mister prompted me as he sat in the bath – “Phone! Phone! Phone!”
Then he posed with a big grin.
Turns out this kid doesn’t say ‘cheese!’
He says, “Happy!” and he grins for the camera. I like that 🙂
…although, I’m a little scared about what he’ll be like when he learns how to take selfies haha.
I thought about it more and the thing that blows me away is that he will choose to be “happy” on cue and he genuinely is – it’s no act. He just decides to be happy and he is. Isn’t that wonderful? Isn’t that a magical thing? Not everyone can do that. Especially as the weight and responsibility of growing up starts to affect us.
Sometimes he just wanders around the house (with that funny swagger that only toddlers have) and chants “happy happy happy!” as he smiles his little face off.
I am inspired by that little man.
So I’m going to try to remember to be “happy”. Whenever I have a choice in the matter (i.e. for as long as my mental health allows), I am going to choose to just be “happy”. I’m going to stretch those little corners of my mouth upwards and I am going to get a silly twinkle in my eye. Just because I want to. Because I need to – it’s good for my health. Because I am lucky enough that I can. And if I should ever not be able to just turn on the ‘happy’ (after trying really really hard), I will make sure to get some help or talk to someone about it or change something in my life.
If I had to sum up 2013 in a word, it would be growth. Hard work, at times quite painful. All necessary. But now I want to focus on happiness. I want to enjoy what I’ve grown to be and where I am now. I want to keep growing, but I want it to have a sense of ease about it. I want to be more *happy*. While some things in life (a lot of things) are out of my hands, I am going to work harder on maintaining my inner peace. I want to remember my inner child.
So maybe that’s my new year’s resolution for 2014. Of course, I have specific goals in mind to achieve this, but I won’t bore you with the details 🙂
May “Happy New Year” not just be an overused platitude. May it truly be happy for all of you.
x
