Today was an ordinary day but so beautiful in its ordinariness. Clear blue sky, so pretty to look up and search for clouds that weren’t to be found. A warm sun making all the blooms on the flowers stand up and sunbath in the warmth of the sun. The yard was so quiet, only the squeak of the swing chain and the noise of the hummingbird wings broke the silence. While I was eating breakfast a few cardinals were visiting the feeders. Didn’t sleep well last night. Last time I looked at the clock before I went to sleep the clock said 2 AM, so I came in off the porch after lunch and took a nap. It’s unusual for me to take a nap.

Revived and back on the porch pondering late afternoon I saw the sky canvas now had lots of wisps of thin see through clouds floating slowly across the horizon. I love to imagine how Father Sky can draw these skinny wispy clouds. I think he might use a white colored pencil. Don’t think his pastel stick could be so transparent. The cardinals and their friends were enjoying the feeders and a few butterflies, all yellow, were flitting around the yard. The yard was still quiet till the neighborhood dogs’ barking train got going. Penelope never enters the bark train conversations as they go around the neighborhood but she sits up pert and listens. I love the bark train in the Disney movie 101 Dalmatians.

One of my friends sent me a quote from Pearl Buck that says, “Many people lose the small joys in the hope for the big happiness.” The world is constantly bombarding us with what will make us happy — a new car, a bigger house, a new diet, a new tennis shoe that slips on…. But most of us have learned that these “things” only bring temporary pleasure. The small simple pleasures in life are what make us happy.

I was thinking tonight that Mother Nature didn’t give me a beautiful sunset, it was muted and colorless. Just as I was turning around to go back in the house, I watched a faint pink glow take over the horizon and the clouds above it turn pale turquoise. I was wanting a glorious kaleidoscope of colors in the sunset to bid the day goodnight but the subdued sunset tonight was more beautiful in its simplicity. I almost missed it because I was searching for something I thought would be spectacular. The simple, wondrous sunset was right in front of me.

We spend so much time and effort into searching for happiness that we end up unhappy. We search for wealth and power and social status but even achieving those things we find ourselves unfulfilled. We need to find joy in the simple things of life and celebrate these simple moments. We need to focus our attention on things that nurture and sustain us and be thankful for these everyday things. The world is full of wondrous beauty all around us. We all chase happiness and it’s right in front of us.

Everyday life is full of simple pleasures — a baby’s laugh, a pretty sunset, butterflies, a warm smile, a porch swing, a cup of coffee, a good book — things we take for granted when appreciated are happy moments. We don’t need an earth shattering moment for happiness. These small moments of happiness give purpose and meaning to our lives. Happiness is a conscious choice we make. Ordinary days can be extraordinary when we’re thankful for their blessings.

“Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.” — Gerard Way