Anyone who meets my 7-year-old daughter would agree that she is one happy kid. And as her daddy, I've gotten to see that her happiness doesn't come by accident. There are some natural ways of being that tend to keep her cruising along from one happy moment to the next. Here five gems of wisdom that I've learned from her:
1. Appreciate the Small Things
For her life is a literal playground. Everywhere we go she sees wonders to marvel at, toys to play with, and people to enjoy. I'll never forget an occasion when I wanted to watch basketball and I couldn't find the HD sports station. I was impatiently thumbing through channels, worried about what I was missing in the highest resolution possible, and my daughter goes dancing by wearing my over-sized shoes and a huge pair of sunglasses. Who do you think was having more fun in that moment?
2. Ask for What You Want (And Don't Be Afraid of "No")
Imagine freely asking your boss for raise. Or asking your lover for what you really want without hesitation. Imagining? Now imagine hearing no, and then going about your day without any lasting disappointment. Sound superhuman, or at least especially evolved or mature? But that is how my little girl lives her life every day. And because she isn't afraid of hearing "no," sometimes she hears "yes."
3. Have Faith
Simple, yet profound. Consider this: my daughter never worries about where her next meal is coming from. She's never concerned about what may be looming tomorrow at school. She's never anxious about if she'll have enough of anything tomorrow, or next week, or next month. She assumes, without even being aware that she's assuming, that she'll have whatever she needs. And, incredibly, she's always right.
4. Don't Worry About Disapproval
One of the defining traits of my happy kid is friendliness, particularly to other small children. So when she passes by other kids, she almost always waves and says hi. But at least 7 times out of 10, the response is a blank stare. Sometimes an admonishing parent will prompt their kid to respond in kind, but many still stay quiet. At times it has hurt me to see her friendliness go openly ignored. But her reaction? "Must be shy." And she continues happily on her way.
5. Give Thanks
What does thanking other people have to do with creating happiness for oneself? In watching my polite little girl navigate her way through life, I've seen how her saying "thank you" positively impacts how people treat her. Myself included. I'll never forget once when she was 18-months old and I was giving her a bath. I was sitting nearby, lost in thought, and she abruptly stops playing with her floating red letters and turns to me and says "Thank you so much for all your help today, Daddy." For her that was a simple thank you, but for me it was a great laugh and cherished memory. One kind word can go a long way.
With these helpful tips, may we all live the happy, joyful lives that my beloved little girl lives every day.
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