What am I most happy about?

Sunrise behind me, the moon setting in front of me, waves crashing on the shore and then rolling gently over my toes that are buried in the cool soft sand. The sky is blue as a robin's eggs, the clouds glowing a pale pink from the morning sun. I look out into the ocean, spread my arms wide, and take a deep breath of fresh air.

This makes me happy because it is real and unspoiled—nature at her finest and purest, no excuses, no complaints—just being what it is and being consistent about it. I do not have to explain myself to the ocean, and it does not burden me with its problems…of which I can see none. Simple, pure, and uncomplicated. That makes me happy. How does it make me feel? When I stretch my arms wide at the ocean, I take a deep breath, close my eyes and say out loud, "God, I'm so grateful. Thank you."

Mary Boley, Westport, Washington resident, did this beautiful piece in response to Ariele’s session #3 of Joyous Ruminations: What am I most happy about in my life right now? Why does that make me happy? How does that make me feel?

SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).

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