Basking in joy

“I was happy but happy is an adult word. You don't have to ask a child about happy, you see it. They are or they are not. Adults talk about being happy because largely they are not. Talking about it is the same as trying to catch the wind. Much easier to let it blow all over you.”~ Jeanette Winterson

I had an amazing opportunity to meet Jeanette Winterson at a bookstore in Dublin while studying abroad. At that time, I was mildly obsessed with Winterson's book, "Sexing the Cherry." My friend Evelyn and I eagerly attended her book signing, awkwardly requesting a photo, and to our delight, she graciously obliged. To this day, I still have a signed copy of her book, a nice reminder of that encounter.

Recently, I stumbled upon Winterson's novel "The Passion" and encountered an interesting quote on happiness which struck a chord with me - the idea that happiness is a pure and unburdened emotion in children, one present without the need for explanation or pursuit.

As adults, we often find ourselves chasing happiness, as if it were something mystical. The act of articulating our happiness can be as futile as trying to catch the wind. Winterson's words encourage us to embrace happiness as a natural state of being, much like a child does. It is not a destination but a journey, not a goal but an everyday occurrence.

The concept of finding joy in small things becomes apparent when comparing the unfiltered happiness of children with the often complicated pursuit of happiness by adults. Instead of treating happiness as a distant goal, we can learn to appreciate it in the simple pleasures that surround us daily. It's not something to be captured and stored for later, like putting sunshine in a jar. Instead, it is as fleeting and beautiful as the sun itself - something to be discovered in unexpected moments, to be embraced, and also allowed to wash over us.

As someone who used to seek shade (I'm quite fair to be fair), I am now a bit more inspired to embrace happiness daily, much like basking in the warmth of the sun's rays. It's not about saving it in my pocket for a rainy day, but more about being present in its unexpected and beautiful moments.