We have neighbors?

Chicago is truly a different place in the summer. It’s been at least 80 degrees and sunny for the past few days, and my seemingly desolate neighborhood has suddenly become flooded with runners, dog-walkers, moms pushing strollers and kids playing football in the same allies I have yet to walk down without keys wedged between my fingers, sharp side out. I love this sudden burst of activity and, combined with the gorgeous weather, it adds a new spark of enlightenment to my life.

When we are suddenly happier about a change in our lifestyle or environment and look back on how things were before the change, are we having a realization of previous unhappiness, or did we simply not know that life could be any better?

My natural instinct says that things always could be better, which I have discovered to be both a good and bad inclination of mine. It is, perhaps, why I have never settled for a mediocre relationship or have never remained in a career position I am unsatisfied with. However, when it came to realizing this free bird has felt too cooped up in the nest this winter perhaps I was aware that something was missing, but was not entirely sure what it was.

I have found that even when the little things that bring joy to our lives no longer exist, no matter our age or place in life, we will inevitably feel a little…well, less joyful. I like my blinds open during the day. I like surrounding myself with people and being in the center of the action to ensure I never miss a beat. I am realizing that it truly is the simple things in life that make me eternally happy. I believe this to be the case for many of us, whether we think so or not. After all, isn’t everyone happier with a little chocolate added to their soy milk?