Happiness does not yield to pursuit

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