Red sandals at the Public Garden

The day I took this picture I spent the morning with my 7-month-old niece, Matti. As soon as I walked through the door she greeted me with this smile---a brilliant smile full of glee, that held no reservations, no rancor---a smile that was full of nothing but pure joy. That afternoon as we played peek-a-boo, Ms. Matti just kept the smiles and the laughter coming.

Later in the day, as I walked through the Public Garden, I spied the above little girl with her parents. There it was again, that energy, that smile, that laughter as her father chased her around the park. When he finally caught her she giggled and begged him to spin her. No, he said, there are signs all over the park that say, the swinging of little girls is not allowed. Neither the little girl nor anyone who was watching believed his mock seriousness.

You never know where it will come from, the inspiration to wear fabulous sandals in a bright color and the commitment to smile and laugh more.