International Day of Happiness

Happiness has always been my great white whale

Fleeting, elusive, impossible to nail

It plays with my emotions, giving me a glimpse here and there

Of what I've. been missing, by indulging in my ever present despair

The touch of a loved one, or a simple hello

The sweetness of a first kiss, and the yearning for more

That wonderful feeling from putting someone else first

Of giving someone else pleasure, expecting nothing in return

The support of my family when I need it the most

The distraction from my friends, when I'm otherwise engrossed

Lying on the beach somewhere eating conch souse

Liming with my friends, preferably at a beach house

Reading, making love, anticipating spring

All of no cost, just an appreciation for simple things

The smile I try to hide whenever you're around

That elation I feel whenever I'm homebound

The pleasures of homeland when I've been gone for a while

That indescribable feeling of landing safely on native soil

That rewarding feeling from penning written word

Of being open, vulnerable and displaying my heart to the world

Happiness as we know is to each his own

But for me this past year has unquestionably shown

Health over wealth and family over everything

Because life is too fragile to not see it as a blessing.