Sunshine in the Heart, Butterflies in the Belly
27. Apr 2026,
"Sunshine in the heart and onions in the belly." Anyone who never shouted that singsong rhyme as a child — face scarlet, laughter barely contained — has a genuine gap in their childhood. The second line had that unmistakable flavour of "you're not really supposed to say that." And what do you not say? Exactly that. Always. The small illegalities of everyday life simply taste better.
The onions are still there, by the way, whenever scrambled eggs lack a bit of kick. And sunshine is still responsible for the vitamin-rich side of life. Only now I mean less the celestial-body variety and more those people who clearly operate their own private light source somewhere deep inside. These from-within-glowing contemporaries, around whom bad moods simply have no chance of survival. Sourness and sulkiness melt at the sight of these cheerfully-shining creatures like snow in March. They seem to love life fundamentally. Really love it. And savour it.
Genuinely asking: how can anyone still be in good spirits in a time that loves to call itself dreadful? Wearing a grief-mask in the minefield is generally considered the appropriate baseline attitude for getting halfway through the day. Oh really? Truly? Does the weight of fear, despair, and hopelessness become lighter when you carry it with a face like a funeral? Somehow I doubt it. The weight stays. The only question is whether you carry it with or without your own inner solar energy.
These sunny types are said to have an aura that directly strengthens resilience. They simply cope better with drama and dystopia, because somewhere they still have residual light that shows them the way out of the chaos. Whoever starts the day on a sunny footing does not only do their fellow human beings a favour — they do their immune system one too. Which is, after all, anything but immune to sunny influences.
Yes, yes, "morning wisdom brings worry and woe." Has the cup gone cloudy again? Not to worry — it happens to the best of us.
Sunny-minded people are not naïve. They see the crises, the global problems, the madness of the present moment just as clearly as everyone else. But they are simply less willing to throw themselves into despair's arms like an old acquaintance who is always around anyway. Whoever can still find the residual warmth of a sunny disposition goes looking for solutions rather than confirmation that the worst is true. And that makes these people rather attractive. And dangerously positive. And inspiring for anyone lucky enough to sit near them.
What were the ingredients of much-praised team spirit again? Cheerful optimism, inspiring relationships, a hardworking ethic, and that radiance fed from within. No accident. A choice.
Keep sunshine in your heart. And love in your belly.
Then you'll have good cheer. And butterflies as well.
