What am I smiling about?

I am constantly asked this question: “What are you smiling about?” Typically this occurs on a date, but not always. I have a few standard answers, from “Everything” to “Oh, nothing in particular”. The actual correct answer is that I have no idea how to explain myself. However, I will make a vain attempt…

I guess that the truth of the matter is that what I “see” is that this particular moment is quite probably inconsequential in the grand scheme of the universe. And even though it may have absolutely no importance to anyone, it is remarkable to me, and I cannot help but be … happy. Why? Because at this very moment, in this fraction of a second, the following things are happening:
A child is being born, to very elated parents
Elderly couple: one is saying to the other, with their last breath, “I’ll be waiting for you”
A teenager is experiencing their first kiss
A baby just took its first step
A student just had a mind numbing break through in understanding some concept
A star exploded into a super nova
A volcano erupted somewhere in the cosmos
A child is crying, and her dog has just licked her and laid its head on her leg
Two men just looked across the chasm of their existence at their oldest friend, and felt
something very deep and very true, and yet feel no need to utter a word
Someone was just told that the initial tests were wrong, they do not have cancer
There is a beautiful sun rise
There is a beautiful sunset
The northern lights are performing their dance
Someone just said “I’m sorry”, with true depth and conviction
An impossibly beautiful flower has opened its petals
A very happy wedding is under way
A kid just caught a fish
A young child smiled, and a cranky old man was moved to smile back
A man has just proposed marriage to the love of his life
A woman has just received a marriage proposal from the love of her life
Someone has decided not to shoot this other person, but they do not know why
Someone feels the awesome presence of their God
A newborn colt, on very wobbly legs, is attempting to stand
Someone just mailed their final mortgage payment
Someone just discovered that they have a secret, and delightfully flattering, admirer
A dolphin just did a summersault out of the water
A dog just caught a Frisbee
An old friend that hasn’t been seen in years just came to the door
A concert pianist just finished the finest performance of their life
A very nervous want-to-be comic, at an “open mic” night, just made the room laugh
The car started
A woman just awoke to a breakfast in bed
There is that crisp smell in the air after a thunder storm
The rain stopped
The rain started
The sound of a baby’s laugh
The sound of bacon frying
The sound of rain
An eagle is flying
Someone’s pet, gone for days, just came home
I am here, at this moment, with this human, listening to this story, and I like it

This list is nothing. It does not even scratch the surface of the possibilities. It is an infinitesimal representation. How does one hear the question “Why are you smiling?”, and relate any of this in a reasonable, encapsulated form?
I’m smiling because there is a lot going on in the universe at this moment, and I find it all … fascinating!