The Ice Cream Bowl Episode

A different kind of story. A short story about a date. 

It's an old story now. Nothing fancy or out of the ordinary, just a movie.

Before it started, he got a nice big bowl of ice cream. And one spoon.
He offered to share.

I love, love ice cream. But I declined his offer.

To eat out of the same bowl?
To share the same spoon?

He mentioned that he had served extra so we could share
Awkward

I made an uneasy attempt, an uncomfortable effort.
But I wasn't convincing, nor was I sincere.

I shortly after told the story of what had happened.
Only to realize that he wasn't a weirdo. I was.

I had forgotten about sharing.
I had forgotten that someone who cares will want to share with me. 

The ice cream bowl episode became symbolic.
Of how far I was coming from.
Of how much I had to work on before being able to open up again. 

Oh how long ago it was. How far I have come. 

Burano, Italia - May 2013

Naughty or Nice

When did we stop worrying about whether we've been naughty or nice ? Was it when we got our first paycheck for our first job and could buy the gifts our parents wouldn't get us ? Or was it simply when we stopped writing to Santa Claus ?

When did we stop fearing we wouldn't get what we asked for because we weren't as nice as we could or should have been ? When did our New Year's resolutions change from "I will be nicer to my sister / brother / parents" to "I will go to the gym / lose weight" ?

Do we simply assume we are nice enough now ? Or do we not understand the true importance of being kind to one another ? Perhaps children who continue to believe they must be nice, even when they stop believing in Santa, become adults who believe in karma...

So I guess that whether you ask yourself if you were naughty or nice, or not... karma knows. And karma will ensure life gives you the gifts that you deserve !

Happy

Happiness is inside all of us.

We just need to find it once and then find our way back whenever possible. The more we travel to that hidden spot, the easier it becomes to go back there. It can be reached at any time, no matter the circumstances. I know, sometimes it may seem hard or even impossible to find it.... due to negative events surrounding us, but it's always accessible. This explains why sometimes it all goes wrong but we're still feeling content with life. Content is happiness trying to come up to the surface.

It's a comfortable place, alone with ourselves. Because happiness doesn't depend on the people around us. It's a mix of abandon, pure pleasure and perhaps meditation. Letting go off all the things that don't matter but seem to contribute to some undeserved unhappiness. Happiness is not only a state, it is a shift in our energy, which is palpable by everything and everyone around us. It's a positive, serene feeling that we should all aim for. 

Knowing that, we can stop looking around and wasting our time trying to find it. A new car, a new adventure, a new lover, a new job might give us the impression to make us happier. But all too soon we realize it doesn't make a long lasting difference. Stop searching and look inside. Happiness is waiting and has been all along. So dive in... 

And then share it. Because Happiness is only real when shared - Alexander Supertramp / Jon Krakauer