It all started with a text message.

But before I get to that, let me make an observation. For a while now my health meter seemed stalled between Not So Bad and Pretty Good (a.k.a. vanilla). Why? Sometimes I?m so focused on where I?m going that I lose sight of where I am. It?s the old ?journey vs destination? dilemma.

That all changed when a text from my friend Deb came inviting me to our friend Barb?s 50^th birthday party.

My initial reaction was to be testy about the late notice. But I sat with it a bit and asked myself if it really mattered how and when I was notified. The answer to that was a big, fat NO. So I accepted the invitation with enthusiasm and responded back (via text) ?I would love to come!?

What?s all this got to do with health, you might ask? Everything. We create our happiness (or any other emotion) by how we respond to what?s happening in our lives.

The invite to Barb?s party could have had the effect of making me feel slighted or overlooked. Or I could choose to be excited at being included. It was all in how I chose to deal with it.

The truth of the matter is that Deb lives in Colorado. She?s three quarters of a country away trying to help plan a party. Did I mention she has triplet 13 year-old boys??My friend was doing her best to help out. Who was I to shoot the messenger?

Little slights (real or imaged) come our way every day. Giving in and becoming part of the grumble-group does nothing to improve our lives. Nothing.

The party was a huge success. My enjoyment of it was in large part due to the fact that I was willing to pull up my big girl pants and make a conscious decision to have a good time. I reconnected with friends who helped shape the best years of my youth. We talked, revisited some of the antics we?d gotten away with back in the day and really lived in those moments. Time stood still and flew by all at the same time.

The arrow to my gratitude meter went so far to the right that it got lodged at the Awesome point. How great is that? I think we all felt the connection because we got together the following night for some takeout, more stories and silly grown-up games.

Sitting around Barb?s dining room table reconnecting with BFFs I?d barely seen over the past twenty or more years helped me recognize again how vital it is to our health?to take time to just be. Be with the people we love without thinking of being somewhere else or doing something else.

Tomorrow?s present moments will wait. Spend some time in today?s. Vibrant health depends on it.

With much love and gratitude to my Seaver Road friends.