Happy Places

The phrase “happy place” seems a little trivial to me, but the idea isn’t. I think it is important to know those places and spaces that fuel us. Recently I’ve been keeping a mental list of my “happy places.” Last night, as I was driving home in a thunderstorm, I decided to write my list for today’s slice.

• In front of a fire, with a good book, or family and friends.
• With young writers who are as delighted with their writing as I am.
• At my family’s summer spot, a small, leaning cottage on the Connecticut coast that has just one bathroom and no dishwasher and countless memories.
• The steep, hilly route I walk with my friends in a nearby neighborhood.
• At the stove, in front of a big pot of soup.
• Under the covers on Sunday morning with a book or the paper or my notebook.
• In just about any bookstore.
• At the table, lingering over a good meal.
• On my dirt and gravel road, with sweeping views and silence all around save for the occasional cow’s moo or donkey’s bray.
• At the lunch table with students, listening to their stories.
• Anywhere with my girls.

 

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for nudging us to walk the walk each Tuesday.