Last week, I saw a woman plunging a bedding fork into a giant pile of mulch. She was smiling. Not a little smile, but a great big smile.

Why was she so happy?

Was she feeling grateful? Had she thought of a joke? Had she just received good news? Just seen a friend? Maybe she loves yard work. Or she’s pain-free for the first time in weeks.

I’m not sure why she was smiling and I love the mystery in that.

But I also appreciate seeing someone expressing such joy in the middle of a laborious task. There’s something valuable to glean from that.