Happy Place

I am down on Hilton Head Island for spring break with the family and I’m feeling so at peace (even with 2 teenagers). I actually just read a book called “Happy Place” by Emily Henry on the ride down and it’s very fitting because I feel like I’m in my happy place right now.

We have a beautiful house right on a creek with a pool and a big screened-in porch. My son is fishing off the pier which is so nice to see him engaging in activities not involving his phone.  My daughter is going for a run and seems to authentically want to hang out with us. As my husband walks by singing “Simply Irresistible” by Robert Palmer, he is checking into work but not consumed by it.

I’m writing this post in my bathing suit!! And I know you don’t know me very well (yet) but I literally hate wearing bathing suits.  For some reason it feels good today. Is all that protein and fiber actually starting to pay off? 

As a family we’re eating dinners together, going for walks, riding bikes and generally enjoying each other’s company. I feel so relaxed and happy…hence my happy place.  I can’t help but thinking…why can’t I find my happy place more regularly in my normal everyday life?

I know what you’re thinking…that’s what vacation is for! No responsibilities, no agendas, no “have-to’s”, only “want to’s”…right? This is true but why reserve this feeling for just a few weeks of the year? Why can’t we find this happy place more in our lives?

When I think about my normal “everyday” life - it's pretty good. I love my work. I love my family. I love my home. Yes, I have responsibilities…but I’m doing much of the same ones here. I put in a load of laundry this morning; we are mostly cooking at our house this vacation so there’s all the things that come with that (shopping, preparing, cleaning). We’re still driving kids around- they have a lot of friends down here this week and their social calendars call. I’m working (hence on my computer right now writing this post).

So what is it? The weather?

Ok- possibly. When we left Buffalo it was in the low 40’s, cloudy and damp. As I’m sitting outside right now it’s sunny, blue skies and 72- perfection. But can weather really be the reason for my contentment? Is my happy place anywhere warm and sunny?  

I read that in the most recent global happiness study- the happiest countries in the world are in very cold areas: Finland came in first place followed by Denmark than Iceland! Sunshine and warmth is not what is bringing those countries happiness.

Could it be mindset?

Well, we’re on vacation- we are supposed to be happy.  I do feel more present here. And as I think about it, it’s more than just my mindset- it’s our collective mindset. My whole family is not preoccupied with the callings of their everyday life. It’s like our collective happy place- literally and figuratively.  And I think that collective feeling of “ahhhhh” rubs off on each other.

Maybe I'm onto something here. My happy place is a collective mindset of being present and in theory can be accessed at any time, right? (Although I do think sunshine and 72 degrees helps).  

So my next question- how do we get there more often, individually and collectively as a family?  I don’t think working in my bathing suit at home when it’s 50 degrees will do the trick.

And I don’t want to be greedy here…maybe just small remnants of this happy place feeling on a consistent basis?  Life is short and I’m turning 51 in a few weeks. I’m more keenly aware of time fleeting away.

If I come to any starting realizations as the week goes on, I’ll keep you posted. For now, I'm going to enjoy my happy place for a few more days.

Sunrise from our porch in Hilton Head