We just came back from a family vacation in the beautiful state of Arizona. The pure majesty of the land was awe-inspiring. It has been on my wish-list of places to visit and I feel fortunate to have been able to see the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon with my children. But one of the experiences that really made me pause was the friendliness and welcoming nature of every person at our resort in Sedona. And I mean EVERY person we crossed paths with or interacted during for our stay. Now I’ve traveled a fair amount but what we witnessed here was above anything. Sincere smiles, warm greetings, shouts of, “Hello” from passing golf carts, and enthusiastic waves from housekeeping and maintenance were at your every turn. You felt it was the culture here to be more than friendly…to elicit smiles and joy. And guess what, it works! We couldn’t resist smiling and fully enjoying where we were. A feeling of contentment pervades when you are surrounded by happiness.
I consider myself a happy, optimistic person. Yet I couldn’t help but reflect and wonder how I can greet my own family members each day with more joy. A gracious, “Good morning” and a hug even if my teens would rather not. A wave out the window as my daughter drives off to school. Grabbing bags off my husband’s arms when he arrives home at night. While these acts seem simple, happiness is contagious so these small, friendly greetings will foster a home environment that exudes more joy and peace. Sounds enchanting to me.
the Essentialist Family 