~ the secret to happiness ~
Last week I chatted with two girls – best friends.
I asked them: “What’s the next big thing coming up that you’re excited about?” This is one of my favourite questions. It always unlocks a world of stories and potential mentoring topics.
One girl started, “Camping! We always go camping at Easter.”
“Cool,” I said, “Who is going with you?”
“Everyone! My family. My cousins. My grandparents.” Then she turned to look at the other girl. “And my best friend!”
“Wow!” I said to the other girl, “You get to go camping with her family! That’s cool.”
“Not just me!” She said, “My family comes, too. We do it every year.”
“That sounds like fun!” I laughed. “Do you go camping often?”
They both nodded their heads.
Then the first girl’s eyes teared up. “But you know what?”
I saw something big coming. I leaned forward and focused on her eyes. “What?”
“Sometimes, my parents leave me with my grandparents,” her voice was a shaky whisper as she confessed, “and they go on holiday without me.”
“By themselves?” I said quietly.
She nodded.
“That’s AWESOME!” I nearly shouted, throwing my hands up in the air. “Do you know what that means?”
Scowling at my joy, she said, “What?”
“They love each other!” I clasped my hands together. “Am I right?”
“Yes,” she said, smiling sheepishly. “They always say that.”
“And they are proving it, by spending time together.” I said, “They are keeping their love alive and keeping your family strong by going away together. You are one lucky girl!”
“I am?” She looked happier, hopeful even.
“Yes, you are!” I leaned back in my chair. “You both are.”
“Your parents know the secret to happiness!” I cupped my hands together like they held a surprise. “Do you want to know the secret?” I peeked in my hands. “I have it here in my hands.”
“Yes,” they both said, excited.
“Repeat after me,” I said as I lifted my cupped hands up to my ear and paused to listen.
“I’m sorry!” I said.
“I’m sorry!” They both repeated.
My hands shook like there was something trying to get out. “Oh, there’s more to the secret!” I held it up to my ear.
I smiled. “I forgive you!”
“I forgive you!” They laughed, repeating me.
“Those five little words are the secret to happiness.” I said, “Your parents obviously know them well. I’m guessing they taught those words to you, already.”
Both girls nodded.
“You are the luckiest girls in the whole school.”
“We are?”
“Yup.”
