From when I was very young there is one thing I always remember. The way my mother's face lit up when I walked into a room. I could be coming inside after playing or returning home from a trip to Europe. It still happens today and I am a 43-year-old woman. That feeling of unconditional love.
As a mom-of-three, there are definitely days when I don't do as well as I'd like. I might have that "I'm-in-the-middle-of-something" look when the kids come up to me. Or I don't have time between making meals, tidying up and running out to activities to play a game of Trouble or look at what they found in the backyard.
But I continue to strive to do better. To stop and notice the beautiful little people that they are. To listen to their thoughts on the world.
I just spent a week at a rented cabin on a lake with the kids. Their bliss at running full tilt into the water. Or jumping off the floating dock. Or getting that marshmallow perfectly toasted over the fire. It truly is the epitome of joy.
We can all learn something from the children around us. As Kailash Satyarthi once said, "Childhood means simplicity. Look at the world with the child's eye -- it is very beautiful."
And as Ashley Smith once said, "Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams."
And never forget to welcome those you love with a look that reminds them how amazing they really are.