finding happiness

Soaked in South Texas: Why Rainstorms Are Made for Smiling

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When the rain finally falls in South Texas, you can hide under the roof or you can dance in it. Which will you choose?

We don’t get lots of rain in South Texas. When it happens it’s time to enjoy it. You can’t really enjoy the rain if you don’t want to get wet. One has to free the little boy or girl and let them get soaked to skin. That’s what happened to me today. I went to the nearby supermarket (In Texas they’re generally H-E-B). When I arrived I could see some clouds in the western sky and thought nothing of it. When I finished checking out a buddy purposely bumped his cart into mine. I told him I was claiming a back injury and he told me I ran a light. We laughed and talked. We decided to stop blocking the aisle and pushed our carts outside. It was pouring rain. Other shoppers were hunkered under the extended roof. I fist bumped my buddy, said goodbye, and casually strolled to my car. I put my groceries in the trunk and took my cart to the cart corral. That’s when I decided to make a video of me getting soaked.

Light for the Journey: When Happiness Walks Through Unseen Doors

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Happiness often arrives quietly, slipping through unexpected openings in our lives—reminding us joy is closer than we think.

Happiness is something that comes into our lives through doors we don’t even remember leaving open. ~ Rose Wilder Lane

La felicidad es algo que llega a nuestras vidas a través de puertas que ni siquiera recordamos haber dejado abiertas. ~ Rose Wilder Lane

幸福是通过我们甚至不记得打开过的门进入我们的生活的东西。〜Rose Wilder Lane
Reflection

Rose Wilder Lane’s words remind us that happiness rarely comes from where we expect it. Often, it arrives quietly, slipping through doors we didn’t even realize we left open. Perhaps it’s a kind smile from a stranger, a memory that warms us at just the right moment, or an opportunity we never planned for. Life has a way of surprising us with goodness when we stop chasing and start noticing. True happiness often comes not from grand achievements but from the hidden, ordinary moments that shine when we least expect them. By staying open, curious, and grateful, we allow these unseen doors to remain unlocked—letting joy find its way in.

What “unseen door” has happiness walked through in your life lately?

A Day of Unexpected Joys That Brightened My Soul

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Sometimes the most ordinary mornings turn into extraordinary days filled with surprises, laughter, and little miracles that lift us higher than we imagined.

I had an amazing day today. It started out like an ordinary day. I woke up, said prayers, got out of bed and began to do my exercises. From there I put the coffee on and took my shower. Still an ordinary day – shortly after I finish my breakfast, I received a text from someone I hadn’t heard from in a while. The person sent me two pictures of a sunrise and a link to a very upbeat, Spotify song. The beautiful photos and the song lifted my spirits higher than what I thought was imaginable. An hour later I headed to the gym. I was lifting weights when a friend called over, “Ray don’t do your next set. I want to talk to you.” My friend showed me a series of photos she and her husband had taken on Padre Island. Each one was better than the the previous. I asked her to text them to me. The good things kept coming my way. I went to my eye doctor for my annual check up and my vision in my right eye improved from 20/30 to 20/20. The Doctor and I both had no explanation. And, everything else checked out just fine. While I was at the doctor’s office an elderly woman walked in and sat near me. She turned to me and sai said, “I’m 85 years old today.” I said, “I wish you hadn’t told me because I thought you were much younger and I was going to ask you if you wanted to go out with me tonight.” She said, “Are you hitting on me?” I said, “yes I am.” She said thank you.” The whole waiting room laughed. We had a wonderful conversation after that. I hope your day was as great as mine and even better. We need days like this every once in a while. They help us get through the rough spots.

Points to Ponder

  1. When was the last time a simple, unexpected moment lifted your spirits in a way you didn’t anticipate?
  2. How do you remain open to receiving joy from surprising places?
  3. What can you do to create those small, joy-filled moments for others in your daily life?

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