Two words: people watching. Washington Square Park is thriving with diversity, entertainment, and sound. I sit underneath a giant white archway that reads “Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God.” A quote by George Washington.

To my left a drummer and saxophone player make battle to the listening audience. While they don’t play together, their sounds combine into a sporadic masterpiece. The saxophone, in particular, invokes soul and passion. Directly in front of me is a shirtless gentleman spinning orange balls in the air. Behind him is a large circular fountain with arching water sprays. To my right, underneath a lamp post with a “No skateboarding” sign, is another shirtless man practicing yoga.

All around me I hear laughter. I watch the quintessential NYC blonde with a black cardigan and designer boots stomp by with her cell phone glued to her ear. I see tourists, like myself, taking pictures and looking around with an excited smile. The sun beats down while the breeze catches different dialects. I think the mixture includes English, Italian, Spanish, and Russian.

I catch a smile at the corners of my mouth and feel warmed not only by the sun, but by the happiness within me. In this moment, I am happy.