Last night Sprite fell asleep in my arms snuggling against my chest. I felt and heard her soft breath. The awareness that accompanies awakeness had disappeared.

This morning at breakfast I was reading the newspaper. Sprite said she likes to watch me when I’m concentrating. In those moments she sees the pure me, the innocent me, and feels loving, just as I did when she fell asleep last night.

Like all actors, we put on a show when we think others are watching us. We clean ourselves up and poke...