Happy Fourth of July friends!

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The pursuit of Happiness. That can be big and looming and audacious. We’re all grasping at that right, happiness? But does it need to be big and always out of reach? It can be utterly simple if we take a breath and see the glimmers of happiness that surround us. The small pleasures that are there when we strip away the complications of life and that rat race for more. 

As my dad and I stood on my parent’s front porch this year looking out at the fireworks lighting up the sky I was reminded of my childhood. In the summer, my dad would take us kids outside with popcorn in hand to sit in the backyard and watch ‘the show’. We would sit and watch the fireflies dance around the yard. We would squeal with joy just sitting there taking in the movements of these bugs. Other times we would lay out on blankets looking up at the vast night sky. We would make up stories about the various stars and create our own constellations. (We had some pretty weird stories with constellations that had some funky names). We were given a chance to use our imagination. Gosh it was fun! 

To this day fireflies are one of my favorite parts of summer. They never cease to bring joy to those who watch them. They remind me that happiness can be found in the simple parts of life. The longer we live the more complicated life becomes and the harder it is to find happiness in the small things. But it doesn’t make it false that we can enjoy the simplicity of life. We can find happiness there. What are some of the ordinary bits of life that bring you happiness? Let’s celebrate those this year! Let’s chase the fireflies.