Love is…Simple

Last week, like many as of late, drifted by in a bland current of general … well, for a lack of better word, ‘blah.’ Work stress led to home stress which gave way to a steady state of unease. Happiness did not come easy. That is not to say, however, that it never came. It did. Three times to be exact and in the simplest of ways. A Saturday date with my wife, a Friday night walk with my son, and a Sunday outing with the family. Well, the family that is still here in Taiwan anyway.

There’s no need to put into words the details of those three events as it wasn’t what happened that brought a sense of joy to my heart. Rather it was just being  with my loved ones. On each occasion, idle chitchat about nothing in particular and everything in general led to a calm space where everyone involved felt seen and heard. There wasn’t much thought or planning that went into any of the dates. It didn’t take much for any of it to happen. All that was needed was the simple desire to just be there with each other and hang out.

Sometimes we (and by we, I mean ‘I’) get caught up in the idea that we need to be doing something special or traveling to a new and unique location to feel the excitement and zest of all that life has to offer. I think my parents instilled that push for excitement in me. I have begun to realize that as much as we crave new sites and fresh experiences, sometimes what the heart needs most is that with which we have been blessed all along. Family. Conversation. Companionship. Love.  And that is what I was blessed with this week.

Love is…simple.