"You happy?"

Emily Apuzzo Hopkins | March 23, 2020

“You happy?”

This is a question my three-year-old daughter has asked us consistently over the past week. She knows nothing about daddy’s income disappearing or that mommy has been working from home because of a pandemic. All she sees is that the people around her will find any possible reason they can to smile.

This innocent question is something that I remind myself of momentarily whether the actual words are uttered or not. Can I honestly tell my child the answer she would want to hear when this question is asked? Can I - in all sincerity - tell my daughter, “Yes, I am happy”?

What I have found, to my own surprise, is that I can. I can honestly tell that sweet little girl that I am happy. With everything that is going on in the world, I have found so many things to be happy about. I am happy that my people (dog included) are right here where I can see them, hold them, laugh with them. I am happy for digital happy hours with my girlfriends. I am happy for brunch-time video calls with extended family. I am happy that my mind is in a really good place right now.

I am happy that in spite of it all, we are finding ways to connect with each other. We need to connect - it’s biological. But beyond that, it’s mental and emotional. We struggle without that sense of connection. But if there was ever a time to be thankful for the technological ways in which we can connect with one another, it is now. We are able to connect with each other in ways we never could in decades or centuries past. 

And because of that, I AM happy.

Will I be happy at every moment? No, of course not. It is an unreasonable expectation to have of myself. There will be other feelings that wiggle their way in, but what I can do is make my default one of happiness. I can choose happiness.

So…

Are you happy?