Kiss (January 16, 2010)

Jan. 16, 2010 Did you know that 16 is my lucky number? Yes, I guess I already mentioned that. Why? Well, when I was little it was because my Birthday was June 16th but when I got a little older I realized that that was the age that I was allowed to date and since everything revolved around love, boys, marriage etc. that was a big deal. It was also the age I could get my Driver’s license and some freedom (however I didn't get my license ‘till I was 17…but I dated on my 16th B-day…shows where my priorities were). I always pick 16. If that’s not available, 6 will work, or anything with a 6 in it or even 3. Sometimes I’ll even go for 9 because 3X3 is 9. I know, I know, crazy logic. I could on and on with that. So, basically you’ll still never be able to figure out what number I am going to pick cuz of my crazy logic, however there is logic to it all. OK, so that’s not what I wanted to write about. I was eating a Hershey Milk Chocolate Kiss the other day and as it was slowly melting into ecstasy I had a very old memory come back to me. I was maybe five or six years old and was at the Dentist. I was very good and still, mainly because I was so shy, but that’s beside the point. I remember that after the appointment the Dentist gave me a beautiful, silver wrapped piece of Heaven. He said it was a ‘kiss’. I had never had one before. When he finally went away I slowly unwrapped the curious thing and popped it into my mouth. Oh heaven! Never had I tasted something so delightful. Never had something so small brought such joy and carefree happiness. It was the start of my love affair with Milk Chocolate. What a special treat. Throughout the years if I ever had a choice I would pick that tiny silver kiss of happiness over any other treat. I didn’t have them often and they were always so delectable and met up to my expectations divinely. So here I am, 27 years later and when I eat that sweet little treat I wonder why it’s not has special to me. While I enjoy it off and on it’s not always my first pick. Have I finally cheated on my first love? I mean, I easily withstood the advances of the White Chocolate Era when I was a teenager (no way did that match up to my beloved ‘Kiss’) and didn't give the Dark Chocolate Era a second look when I became an adult even with the claimed health benefits of it. (I mean really, whose eating chocolate for health reasons? I suppose some, maybe). Anyway, none of those things came between me and my kisses until I got too many. Until they were too plentiful. To easily had. It started a thought process that I haven’t quite thought through all the way. Lucky you. Here I am going to try and think it through. We, has humans, I don’t believe will ever be truly satisfied. We are always reaching for something “special” something “new”. Just as that Hershey kiss was special because I had never had it before and then didn’t get it often, as soon as I did, it was no longer special, just another treat. Eating out was also something that was special because we didn't do it a lot. Then as a teenager, when I was earning my own money and eating where I wanted, it wasn’t so special. Well, I guess this logic is obvious. It’s special because it’s not something we do or get a lot, but then we work to get it, and once we do it’s just another ‘thing’. Granted, I have to say the harder you work for something the more special and meaningful it is to you. Something handed to you or given without special emotional sentimentality attached to it is hardly ever so special. So as you become more successful and the little things just come as a part of life and no longer have that special meaning, what does? You start reaching for bigger things, but once they come easily, again we are back to the same thing. I suppose that’s why very wealthy people can have all these amazing things and still not think it’s special or be happy with it. It seems amazing to us ‘poorer’ folks, but in fact, we do that same thing, just on a smaller scale. So will true happiness and meaning ever be attained?? Reeelax, of course they can with proper perspective and self-control and gratitude. Just because you ‘can’ doesn’t mean you should. Save some of those little things as ‘special’ things. For example, going to the movie theater is something that was always a special event in my family. Even though we can afford to take our children more often to the theater, this is something we save for Thanksgiving, Christmas and maybe a birthday. It makes going to the theater something that is special and not just something to do. Of course I think the biggest and the most important thing is to be thankful for what you have. To give the credit where credit is due and that is to God. You would be nothing, have nothing without Him. Everything you are, all talents, all property is because of Him. If we are grateful for all that we have, for the little ‘kisses’ and things in life, then we can slow down and enjoy the moment we are in, instead of always living in the future. That is not to say that we are not supposed to be learning, reaching and improving, but be satisfied and thankful while you are doing it. If you are Happy with what you have as you continue to reach to be better, you’ve got it. Ok, probably none of this makes sense. Let me just advise, enjoy the moment! Most will not last and will not be repeated. Enjoy the sunshine of that perfect day, or the smile of that newborn, the laugh of your toddler, or the singing of the birds in the morning. Enjoy the noise of your children, they grow up fast and you’ll miss it. Enjoy the little things, enjoy the ‘kiss’.