I haven’t posted many deep thoughts lately.

It isn’t because I haven’t had any; it’s just that travel pictures are so much more fun.

I was one of the first ones at the flower shop on Saturday, so I had my pick of the peonies (nothing makes me happier).

I sorted through them, looking for a bunch where the blossoms that hadn’t bloomed yet,
but were sure to bloom in the near future,
but not too soon because they don’t last that long in the heat.

You see, peonies are expensive.

I’ve gotten burned before when they didn’t open.

Equally upsetting, if the flowers are already open, there’s no way they’ll last a full week for me to enjoy.

And so the narrative went in my head as I fondled every bouquet.

Touch.

Smell.

Examine.

As my rational side tried to pick the absolutely perfect bunch where I’d get the best return on investment, my flower-loving side ached to take home the fragrant, magnificent peonies that would open this weekend.

Every weekend I take a simple pleasure and analyze it until all the pleasure is gone.

This week, a coach and mentor (who I didn’t know personally, but who has influenced me greatly) passed away. He was 35.

I thought of him as I went back and forth with the peonies.

What if I picked a bouquet timed perfectly to open mid-week. And what if I never got to see them open?

So often, we’re so busy planning for the future that we forget to enjoy the present.

I went for the peonies that are almost fully open — and I love them.

As I rushed home to drop them off before yoga, I ran into my neighbor, who is also my age, and who has two young children.

I walked with her–she, pushing her stroller and I, carrying my yoga mat. We laughed as I said, “yoga and peonies are my life! have fun at the park!”

And then I thought about how different our lives are.

Neither being better. Just different.

I thought about how I didn’t have a family and how I’m ok with that.

I thought about how happy I am with my life choices and where those choices have led me; but how I’d be equally happy if I had to take two small kids to the park.

Happiness is within each of us.

Isn’t it so much easier to appreciate what we have and embrace what makes us happy today?