Go ahead. Just Run Through the Fountain.

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She was wearing pink crocs. Once I noticed the tough plastic shell of her shoes, I worried a little less about her slipping.  She ran with an uneven, three year old gallop through the fountain. It was one of those fountains in the middle of a shopping center.  Evenly spaced spouts of water danced rhythmically as it pushed it’s way out of the granite bottom that was flush with the rest of the pavement.

They were kind of fountains that you see adults standing around, mesmerized just watching the water shoot up and fall yet not splash. The kind that makes you want to run through them, no matter what age you are.

And she was. I was sitting on my lunch break, from my new corporate job, out in the sun on a perfect Southern California day of 75 degrees. The mini fountain looked peaceful and I pulled up a chair so that I could eat my lunch next to it. When I turned around half way though my sandwich, I saw her. Her three year old self bounced through the water. She was fully clothed in a tank top and leggings, but her Mom must have planned this joyous event because there was a big orange striped beach towel hanging over the back of the metal chairs where Dad was eating lunch. People in corporate clothes shifted uncomfortably under their long sleeve button up shirts, and closed toed shoes. But she ran free. And she didn’t stop.

I kept thinking she’d get tired or that the water would be cold. The fountains popped up three feet of water straight up, four by four of them in a little square pattern. The water shot softly, just over her head, and she ran smiling, with her mouth open. I worried that the water might not be potable, and that her little feet might slip on the slick surface where the water landed, until I noticed those pink crocs.

I worried like an adult. She didn’t have a care in the world.

I could feel her happiness and pure joy exploding, and I couldn’t stop watching  her gallop, couldn’t stop smiling. She made me ridiculously happy just watching her. She made me want to run through fountains, fully clothed.  But, I’m not sure my boss would be very happy with me if I returned sopping wet from lunch. As I watched her Mom watch her,  I realized that you can actually plan these moments.

The toddler’s mom knew how much fun running in the fountains would be, and she outfitted her in clothes that were able to get wet, and brought a towel. Moments that bring enormous joy don’t necessarily have to happen spontaneously, you can make an effort to have them in your life.

Before that day, I had always had the assumption that joys in life came spontaneously, with that annoying New Age-y touch-y feel-y attitude that  the universe decides to put them in our path at random.  But watching this little girl taught me a big lesson.

You can  plan to be happy.

Happiness can be like most things that we do in life as responsible adults… we can plan for it.  All it takes is a little consciousness and awareness of what brings you joy.  Seeing her naive three year old eyes light up made me crave that innocent joy.  She also made me aware that such simple things can bring the greatest pleasure.

Remember to recognize those simple things that bring you joy, and take a little effort to plan to make them happen again.  All it takes is a dash of optimism, a bit of awareness, and a little planning.  You have the power to recreate your own happiness.