You ask me why I'm smiling

I stare, open-mouthed.
But you've lived such a hard life,
I say.
why are you smiling?
And she looked at me with a smile on her face.
You ask me why I am smiling
I am smiling because I am happy.
I stare.
You ask me why I am smiling,
she says.
but you want to know why I am happy.
I am happy because I woke up today
and there were no bombs to be afraid of,
no brothers to pray for as they fight in the war,
no food to work for- it's already in the fridge.
But really I am happy because even though I've endured hardship
I know that the only duty I have is to myself.
To my happiness
and to myself.
I do not need to worry about my food
or my health
the only thing I ever need to do in life is be happy.
You ask me why I am happy
but happy is not something you are.
Happy is something you make.

I went to sleep that night with a different view of the world.

She stares at me and asks
Why are you smiling?
I smile.
You ask me why I am smiling
but you want to know why I am happy.
I met a woman once who told me that she was happy
because the only duty she had was to herself,
to her happiness.
She did not need to worry about her food
or her health
the only thing she ever needed to do in life was be happy.
She was very wise
You ask me why I am happy
but happy is not something you are.
Happy is something you make.