I'm Alive

I recently enjoyed a Saturday in our living room watching my nine week old daughter go back and forth in her baby swing. 

She had swung in it quite a few times before, but for whatever reason, this ride was by far the greatest. She has just reached the point of having enough strength to hold her head up long enough that she can look back and forth by putting her head on a swivel. I guess doing this while swinging from left to right was too much excitement.

The entire time she did this, she not only smiled, but laughed every fifteen seconds or so. Now mind you, she is still coming into her own with the laugh. It sounds like a hiccup mixed with a small scream. Kind of like if a miniature seahorse was ever choking on air.

A few days later I watched her for a few moments with a smirk on the side of my face as she raised her hands and kicked as Christmas music played in the background and stopped when the music stopped.

That night I discovered that every time our dog gives her a big wet kiss when she's crying, the tears cease and a smile goes on.

Each and every day she experiences something new. Each and every day I am seeing her personality come together and change as a result of that new experience. And each experience, she ends up with a smile on her face afterwards.

I think she's showing me one thing.

She enjoys being alive.

We can take notes from the humans on this planet who have the least amount of life experience. We should take in all experiences-both good and bad-and let them sink into one final truth.

I am here. 

I am alive. 

I have life within my soul. 

I will enjoy it.