My family friend’s three-year-old son Xander and I were in his playroom playing with his kitchen toy. He wanted to make me some food and I gratefully obliged. He got out his little plastic food, put a cookie on a plate, and put it into the microwave. I can see the focus on his face. He is to make me this cookie and it is to be perfect. He opens the microwave door to reveal the unchanged cookie. I’m prepared to fake eat this cookie with so much realness and emotion that he believes it. But then he pulls out his plastic salt shaker. The fake kitchen foods are so realistic these days! The salt shaker is transparent and it has little white pebbles inside that resemble actual salt. He sneakily turns away from me and I can hear the rattle of the salt shaker. Oh boy, I think. I immediately know he wants a reaction out of me when I “eat” his confection. He turns back to me and the mischievous grin on his face is a beam that blinds me. He presents his creation to me and I take it. I go to take a bite and his eyes widen. The cookie barely missed my mouth as I made a chomping sound. I command my face to contort with displeasure as I pretend to taste the heaps of salt he has put onto the cookie. His laughter rings throughout the house. He has succeeded! He reaches over with the salt shaker in hand and violently shakes more “onto” the cookie. I am forced to repeat the act. After about three repetitions, I have the audacity to start feeling bored. He obviously did not feel the same way. His little boy cackling grows and grows each and every time I “take a bite” of his sweet. I sit there and think about how long it has been since I have gotten joy from such things.

I realize it’s been years. My boredom overwhelms me every chance it gets, which is often. I am shocked at this realization. How ironic that such a little boy can teach me how to be happy. All you have to do is do the things that you love, no matter the size. I wish everyone could obtain the happiness that Xander radiates each and every day.

I think about this moment often. The thought alone brings me the joy that he shed that day. I am so grateful to have such an innocent, humorous, and joyful soul in my life. I often now see the simplest things, such as cute animal photos and videos, and my heart sings with unfiltered joy. I wish this feeling upon everyone.