I found this embroidered piece hanging in the hallway of my aunt-in-law’s house. With my focus on joy and everyday delights, I was overjoyed to find this in a family home. The message is so simple, and yet so hard to remember.

We chase happiness like it is a kite blowing on the wind, but it is our own attitude and perspective towards being happy now that can have such a positive effect on those around us.

“Happiness is catching. We get it from each other.”

Who was Eve?

The signature says “Eve 1986“.

Eve was my ex-husband’s grandmother and I met her in 1991 when she was 86, a few years after she’d done this work. She was born in 1905 in India and lived through 2 world wars and bore 7 children. Sadly one of her children died at 13 months. Eve herself left us just after her 90th birthday in 1995. Three of her daughters and one son are still alive, all in their 80s or early 90s!

I wonder how long it took her to do this piece and what inspired her to choose this quote?

This post is part of my Living Joyfully and Monday Musings series