I was supposed to be writing this very article on finding happiness when my mom texted me with an urgent:
-- More peonies at Krogers! ALL COLORS --
So much for deadlines; I dashed out for a couple of precious bunches.
Peonies are my favorites (my mom loves them too) and we only get them in Dallas for about two weeks in early June. We call each other and coo over the luxuriant petals, send photos to gloat over our luck. They are like prom dresses, almost garish -- so rich and heavily ruffled in shocking color. Going out seemed the right thing to do.
In the express line to pay, the older gentleman in front of me saw my flowers and asked, "Are those peonies?"
"Yes," I stumbled. "I'm uh...showing myself a little love..."
(Full disclosure: Even though I know better, I still felt silly and guilty, there with flowers as my only purchase. He was buying necessities.)
As I began to offer excuses for the indulgence, his face broke into a bright and knowing smile.
"My wife loves peonies. How much are they?" The price was barely out of my mouth when he asked the checker to watch his cart of paid-for groceries. And then he was gone.
It was the sweetest thing.
Walking through the parking lot, I passed a crumpled little lady sitting alone in her car with the engine running. It looked like she was talking to herself, and I couldn't help but secretly worry, "That will be me someday."
I started up my own now-baking car, waited for the blessed air conditioner, and paused to plot a few more errands to justify the outing -- need to go over to the scout shop, CVS, by then it'll be time to pick up a child from football camp...
... and out of the store came Peony Man.
He saw me in my car and waved, beaming, then pointed to the flowers. Then he got in the car with the crumpled lady, gave her the flowers and hugged her. Then he pointed to me and I waved, and the lady smiled and waved back. A simple, silent exchange.
I was overwhelmed. Saturated with happiness.
I called my mom to tell her the story, but couldn't quite get it out. "Oh, just read my newsletter this month," I told her. "I think you'll like it."
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Do you struggle to be happy? Have you forgotten what brings you special joy, what makes life fun and interesting, what lifts you out of a foul mood?* Come to my next workshop (see sidebar) and you'll have a good time remembering, I promise. :)
*We all have our unique preferences. I had almost forgotten how much I love kittens until my boys got Khan (pictured above with the peonies -- okay, he was for me too). Call me a crazy cat lady, but he makes me laugh every day.
