Today I was Happy

There is nothing like basking in the last golden rays of sunlight before it dips behind the mountains here at the edge of the Rocky Mountains. I have recently moved from Boulder to Longmont, which is only 15 miles north, but I am given at least another half hour of late sunlight, since Longmont is further from the mountains. Recently I discovered a magazine - it's more like a book really - called Bella Grace that is filled with these kind of warm glowing photos that make you want to wrap up in your favorite shawl and sip some Early Grey. It inspired me to walk outside and see what I could find before the sun went down. I remember what I was thinking when I snapped this photo: My life is so very beautiful. Within that pure moment of being human -standing in the warm glow- I felt connected to all things. And that felt really good.

I collect these kind of moments like seashells or garden gnomes, and tuck them away for times when I am sad, hopeless, or afraid. Today I was happy, but I know I will not be happy every day. By taking this photo and writing to you about it, I am anchoring this feeling deep inside myself. I have comforted myself many a dark time by remembering and bathing in these kind of moments. In this way, I'm squeezing every drop of shimmering loveliness out of this sweet, sometimes sad, and mostly exhilarating life I'm living.

Your poem today is called Today I Was Happy, So I Made This Poem, by James Wright. Give yourself memorable experiences when you are happy, and feast on them in dark times. The light always returns.

xos

Today I Was Happy, So I Made This Poem

by James Wright

As the plum squirrel scampers

Across the roof of the corncrib,

The moon suddenly stands up in the darkness,

And I see that it is impossible to die.

Each moment of time is a mountain.

An eagle rejoices in the oak trees of heaven,

Crying

This is what I wanted.