A Mirror of True Beauty

As I sat down to write this piece, an old friend and her search for elusive happiness came to mind. Last night I had shared with her some of my own experiences since we last met several years ago and how important gratitude has been in bringing me to a state of happiness now, regardless of circumstances. What then sprung to mind was the intense beauty that lies within us all and, as I was present to that, I felt tears welling up as I was filled with a mixture of sadness and joy: sadness for my friend whose beauty is obscured, lost to her view, yet she is such a deeply caring person, bursting with love and playfulness as her fears stall happiness in the moment and lead to frustration and deny her just rewards; joy too as I contemplated her potential, her true beauty and also the role I am sometimes blessed to play in holding a mirror up for those who cannot yet see themselves in all their glory. Can there be any better job in the world than this, I wonder.