A Simple, Happy Life

This may be the happiest I’ve ever been.

I feel like I’ve finally settled into myself…into the Life I Was Meant To Have.

I can stop—probably for the first time ever—truly stop and collect myself. Stop the noise in my head, when I need to. Stop the frantic-ness that can be Me.

I have created this day-to-day life where I am outside a lot. In a bathing suit. Barefoot.

My yard is filled with palm trees constantly threatening to drop concussion-inducing coconuts. I fall asleep on especially windy nights to palm fronds hitting, swishing, lulling.

My boys are almost always sun-kissed—their long manes lightening with the sun. Vitamin D, this family is certainly not lacking.

I listen to country music now—a lot. I find it soothing and it makes me smile.

My back patio double doors are often open.

I do yoga and I meditate on pavers warmed by Saturday morning sun, overlooking the turquoise water of a pool that is quite worn—everything but fancy.

We know our RV is always sitting in the yard—an escape, freedom—available any time.

I have good, good people in my life.

A full house on New Year’s Eve (after thinking “no one is coming…we are living too far East now”) with family and friends and kids, dancing The Wobble in hysterics, singing every Florida Georgia Line chorus, dancing merengue to the songs of my childhood.

I am happy in my own skin—in spite of its weathered, far-from-young-and-smooth surface.

I am married to a man who, even after nearly 15 years, I can’t believe I was actually lucky enough to find and coerce into attempting to put up with me.

I live in a cozy little house—with walls the color of that pool water and shelves made from driftwood we found on beaches and collected through the years.

Yes, I’ve been lucky. But I’ve made choices. I’ve taken chances. I’ve trusted. I’ve dared.

And this—this is the happiest I’ve ever been.


Elizabeth Suarez Aguerre is a teacher, writer, blogger, mommy, wife, and beach bum. She is the published author of 9 educational books and a contributing writer on The HerStories Project: Women Explore the Joy, Pain, and Power of Female Friendship.. Her passionately blunt & highly opinionated musings on everything from parenting to traveling can be found on her blog …but then I had kids, which she started in 2009 in an attempt to survive the early days of motherhood.