“You’re going to realize it one day — that happiness was never about your job, or your degree, or being in a relationship.

Happiness was never about following in the footsteps of all of those who came before you, it was never about being like the others.

One day, you’re going to see it — that happiness was always about the discovery, the hope, the listening to your heart and following it wherever it chose to go.

Happiness was always about being kinder to yourself, it was always about embracing the person you were becoming.

One day, you will understand.

That happiness was always about learning how to live with yourself, that happiness was never in the hands of other people.

It was always about you.

It was always about you.” – Bianca Sparacino

Photos are from yesterday, a perfect day spent at the Boathouse in Forest Park and the Botanical Garden in the comfortable, happy company of one of my oldest friends. It was one of those days that, when I look back on it, was sprinkled like confetti with quirky and perfect little gifts: a snow-white crane planted behind my chair at lunch, glorious sunshine and gentle, cool breezes, a group of people launching their remote-controlled boats on the lake — and the laughter of the children who loved them, a parade of dozens of dog owners walking their blue-eyed malamutes through the park, a father and his small son riding a scooter dressed as the Mario Brothers, a smile of strange fruits arranged on the ground at the Children’s Garden, so many monarch butterflies fluttering and floating through town on their journey south that I lost track, fascinated visitors catching a glimpse of the corpse flower that will open any day now, and a variety of annuals and perennials colorfully defying the change of season. I can only look back and marvel that life and God took an otherwise unremarkable Saturday and made it altogether lovely.

So yes, I understand that happiness is about me…and recognizing with gratitude the One who loves me.