One video has unlocked all the secrets.

Watching it made me discover riches and solve mysteries that plague me every day. Life and all its puzzles were now clearer.

Not the JFK-Zabruder film. Not "It's a Wonderful Life."

It was the Joseph Robert Walls debut — a home video of my roommate Liza's first nephew.

It had to be one of my worst days — so many papers to write, so many hours to work. Down from the pile of job applications and realizing graduation is three months away, I headed home facing a sad six hours of sleep until the next day of troubles.

But one look at Joseph with kittens covering his jumper and cat ears on his little head made all those problems disappear.

I'm the kind of person who loathes "cute." Everyone who knows me knows I have a bitter, sarcastic sense of humor. I scoff at people who cry at movies — poor saps. And I feel sorry for those couples who call each other "Cupcake" or "Schmoopy Woopy."

But as soon as I saw Liza's sister lying on her couch, Joseph asleep on her chest, "Schmoopy Woopy" didn't sound so bad. (Well, it still sounded bad, but I might have been more willing to say it). For some reason, hearing "Joseph goes poopy" was now music to my ears.

All sarcasm in my mind melted and I became like all those people I pity when they speak in baby babble. Time seemed to vanish and I waited to see what Joseph would do next. The next scene could bring a new rocker, another burp, maybe even new animal print pants and socks!

All of a sudden all those things I had to do didn't matter. Five hours of sleep? Who cares — Joseph might drool again in this next take. Fifteen minutes of VHS had turned my whole day around. I laugh now just thinking of those outfits. What do we do to children? Why is infancy an okay age to dress up as a cat on an everyday basis? When was the last time you saw a grown man wearing a shirt with choo-choo trains? Half the reason adults are always smiling when they see babies is because they're laughing at their clothes.

I was in utter awe and admiration of Joseph. Babies became the smartest people in the world to me — they throw up, they sleep all the time, they pee in their pants and people adore them for it.

What is their secret?

Maybe it's because they know something we don't. Maybe it's because they know life is more precious than deadlines and job fairs. Maybe it's because they have perspective on life.

(It could be because they can't scream "Are you kidding me with those paw prints?")

But whatever makes them so carefree, so willing to look like a bunny rabbit and go out in public, I envy them.

More than that, I envy Liza. She's got the greatest of spring break plans.

What could be a better escape from the frenzied, stress-filled days of college life than hanging out with the baby dressed as a Calico, whose only worry is whether to nap before or after watching "Blue's Clues?"

They consist simply of spending a week changing diapers, wiping drool and making goo-goo sounds.

I can't imagine a nicer seven days.

• Babies are the smartest people