HOLIDAY REFLECTIONS

I’m looking at my son how happy he is first thing in the morning. His smile is like a 100-watt light bulb, and his entire face says: ”Good morning, people! I’m ready for another day of excitement!”
As the day goes by, he finds beauty in everything: a lost snail, a big button from one of my mother’s winter coats, a plastic something. He is so easy to be pleased! He finds new ways to play with his toys, new ways to interact with people and I’m watching fascinated.
As a parenthesis, yes, he also has tantrums and loves new toys, the tablet and the TV, but this joy he has the first thing in the morning I don’t want ever to end I want to be there with him for his entire life.
And then, I’m watching my dad: always with a frown face, lost in his thoughts and I’m thinking: ”What happened to you?” For sure you were the same as a child. But I’m not daring to ask him because I know he wouldn’t understand the reason behind my question and his answer would be an angry one.
And this is the main story behind every face that lacks joy: ”I had a rough life, the things I had to go through, the shocks, the vicissitudes of life..”
I do not want to mock or to belittle somebody life’s experiences, but at the same time I feel itchy if I don’t ask the question: ”What about the happy times?”
”Oh, they were many”, I get the answer, and a nostalgic look often passes the person’s gaze. And they start a mental journey back in the past, and you can see their features change, from that frown face a smirk appears, then a smile and often, giggles, too.
And in those moments I want to shout at them: ”Keep this on your face, let the shift happen once and for all!” but they’re not ready, so, I’m pleased that just for a little time I’ve seen a transformation.
These are the people on the survival mode. They don’t have to be 60 like my dad; they can be in their 50’s, 40’s, 30’s, 20’s and even younger. The world is full of them; they are the norm, and it’s ugly.
Now, I vouched for myself that never I’ll be one of them, no matter what. And I know that if I am on the safe side, my son will be, also.
And with a mum who keeps me accountable: ”What’s with those lines which continue your nose up to your forehead?” I know I have every chance.
”They are from the sun, mum” I always reply, smiling.
