The Key to Happiness

...is apparently a tangible thing. Its also highly affordable and offers hours of entertainment.







That's right. Plastic cups.

This is how I found Hensley yesterday afternoon. In the kitchen, with her little cup-garden. Happier than someone who just won the lottery. Thrilled with herself that SHE built this...this...cup masterpiece. Completely oblivious to her surroundings (including our dog, Athena, who was desperately trying to nab her Craisins.) Arranging and re-arranging them, knocking them down, telling me what colors they were (all except orange...that one's too hard, I guess.) All in all, she was just ecstatic. All of this, over cups.

My first thought: "Oh. My. Goodness. That is PRECIOUS!"

My second thought: "Where IS my camera?"

My next thoughts: (While snapping pics like a madwoman) "How do we go, as people, from being happy, totally content little children playing with cups in the kitchen to nasty, crochety, cynical adults? How is the FUN of this simple activity lost? Why does it disappear as we grow older? Is there any way to get it back? And if so, HOW do we get back that child-like innocence?"

As adults, we are quick to judge, narrow-minded, and just plain a-holes most of the time. The "burdens of life" have "taken their toll" on most of us, we claim, even though when it comes down to it we're all lucky sonofaguns. For most of us, we've been dealt a pretty sweet hand comparatively but we're blind to it. The late water bill, lack of money to go to that $200-a-ticket concert, and rude person in line behind us at the gas pump is enough to ruin our day and leave us with a sour outlook on life.

I don't know about your kiddos, but I know that Hensley's day physically could not be ruined by any of those events - or even all three combined. Her joyous spirit refuses to be silenced by menial earth-bound events like those. I sit in wonder of her "ability" to live so happily - so carefree - so innocent.

Maybe if we all just sat down on the kitchen floor, forgot our "troubles," and played with some plastic cups then that child-like joy would slowly return to all of us. Stifled, beaten, and forbidden to exist, it may be shy and timid at first. But, if we all embraced that sweet little being that still lives in us all (we ALL were children once, you know) then maybe, just maybe we could learn to enjoy our lives once again.

Hensley taught me that it can all start with just a few plastic cups. Give yourself some "cup time" today and embrace that joy that's in there - you know you want to. : )