Lucky Besties

Panic set in this week when I realized how many loved ones I still needed to buy gifts for, so I rushed out to a shopping center in an attempt to make a dent on my list. I was walking to my car after the first store and dropped one of my bags. I inched toward a bench nearby to readjust the items in my bags—exasperated, I wanted to give up the rest of the shopping trip and go home. I sat on the bench for a few minutes—sun shining brightly and lovingly, giving me respite to catch my breath. I started to notice the rays of sunshine caressing my face. I got comfortable and started smiling at people walking by. Some people gave me weird looks, but others smiled back. Moms with little ones walked by, and I'd smile, and they waved or smiled.

After a few minutes, I was in a trance, a meditation of sorts, sitting in silence in a crowded courtyard of a shopping center, smiling at others but without thoughts at all. Gratitude started to take over, and the smiles and rays of the sun felt like …