happiness does not yield to pursuit
it tends, instead, to peek out from the edges of limitation
when it things no one is looking
loving to surprise with the delight of the unexpected
we may do our best to create the environment
the space in which
happiness is likely to occur
but it will not be forced
not by should or have to or must
it seems most likely when options are reduced
when choices are limited
fleeing ostentation
it gets lost in the forest of what ifs
preferring a single chosen yes
over a bewildering plethora of maybes
of too much
of too many
its foundation crumbles
with the dry rot of competition
the black mold of comparison
building, as it does, on
shared moments of enough
partnering with joy it stirs up contentment
so that complacency doesn't set it
bubbling up unexpectedly out of
the satisfaction
the subtle thrilling of
being
growing through releasing
through sharing
through celebrating
the common
the simple
the underwhelming
now
