Joy at Union Station doesn’t sound like they should be in one sentence. However, today was a special experience. I took the train at Union Station to attend a morning meeting. I remember it was rush hour and I had to balance my phone all while holding the rail so I don’t trip on the abrupt stops. Well at one stop I missed the rail and almost slipped! Yes…I’m clumsy it’s one of those things I need to accept about myself. I was a little embarrassed as people are so quiet and during the ride it’s as if no one is breathing.

Later that afternoon I rode the train to get home getting closer to Union Station, my final stop. To my surprise the train slows down and picks up not one herd of small kids but three herds of them! I love children but not sixty all at once and in such a small crammed space. Well to my dismay a group came rushing in full of laughs and energy! The adults were outnumbered.

All I was thinking about was…I hope I don’t get sick! Then with each passing stop I noticed my face smiling a little bigger. They were so entertaining and I looked around and saw the other adults watching them with the same smile. They would roar with laughter with each abrupt stop trying not to trip and deliberately letting go of the rail and balance their little bodies with such joy! It was infectious and I suddenly realized how my morning experience was so different from their experience.

These tiny teachers of joy showed me that it’s all about perspective.