Welcome to your life. It’s filled with color and vibrancy when you slow down enough to see it. Listen to the meow of the cat, the bark of the dog, the buzz of that obnoxious fly that wont stop circling around the room. Take your partner’s hand every chance you get, bake that special tart grandma used to make, taste the soup when it’s still too hot, bake homemade bread from scratch, share butter and salt kisses that lead to, well…you know. This is your life.

Dance in the kitchen to a dumb song you just made up, own at least one Hawaiian print shirt. Hint…everything Hawaii is good for the soul. Eat cookies in bed, always let the pets sleep with you. Dance with your children from the time they can walk. When they are half a century old, they will still remember what it was like to stand on daddy’s feet and sway to the music. Don’t worry if your house is dirty or if your car is a mess, go to the zoo anyways. Elephants are so much more magical than vacuums. This is your life.

Don’t over schedule your children. Give them time to play and run around the neighborhood and scratch up their knees and crash their bikes and climb trees. Remember, this is their life. Play sad music you can cry too and remember what it feels like to love and lose. Play happy music that is goofy, the kind your teenager rolls their eyes at but smiles at too. This is your life.

Hold your loved ones close. Cry happy tears for the simple fact that they were born and came to live in your life. What a freaking miracle it is that they found you and that they love you. This is your life and it is beautiful.

Happy Saturday beloveds. Now go out and play.