Life doesn’t have to be overly complicated. In fact, in many cases, the simple things are the best things. There is a lot of enjoyment to be found in everyday activities. For example, the feeling of the warm sun shining on your face on a summer day, or the taste of a perfectly cooked piece of homemade fried chicken.
We should all take a moment to be more like the 59 people included on this list. They shared their beautiful stories with us and touched our hearts. Their ordinary photos showcase that the secret to happiness is often just appreciating what we already have around us. We all have so many reasons to be grateful, even though we don’t even realize it.
1. “This dress I made myself, just in time for Star Wars day!”
When the stores don’t have what you want in stock, sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands. Making something for yourself provides a great feeling of accomplishment. You can wear your new homemade clothes with pride.
2. “My mother is 61, and today she got married. This picture is a good summary of how she feels about that.”
It’s never too late to tie the knot. After all, you don’t always find the right person on the first try. It often takes a while to meet your soulmate, but in the end, the wait is worth it.
3. “Didn’t know if the fireworks would bother our autistic son. He didn’t care for them last year.”
This year, the son had a completely different reaction to the fireworks. It was one of pure joy. He enjoyed every second of the display.
4. “My grandpa was very excited to show me that he grew a tomato plant in an eggshell.”
Growing a tomato in an eggshell is a somewhat bizarre challenge to take on. Although, in a way, it is also pretty cool too. We can definitely understand the man’s excitement.
5. “I won my work Fantasy Football league. That’s the look of pure defeat on the two guys behind me as I was presented my trophy.”
The guys never expected she would win. However, that’s exactly what happened. She earned the trophy fair and square. Everyone in the league is jealous of her now.
6. “Happy birthday to my best friend.”
It’s not a birthday without a giant dog bone cake and some party hats. Thankfully, the owners know the pup very well. He always gets exactly what he wants.
7. “Enough love to make a kitten smile.”
Animals bring so much happiness to people, especially kittens. They love that we love them, and in turn, give us even more love back. It’s a beautiful exchange.
8. “My mother getting to ring the bell after completing a year of chemo!”
The act of ringing the bell might seem simple on the surface. However, it means so much to her and her family. Successfully completing chemotherapy is a cause for celebration.
9. “So we used a head massager on my girlfriend’s dog…”
We imagine that it must have been a really unique feeling for the dog. He clearly enjoyed it a lot though. The massage was electrifying for him!
10. “My wife gave our son a whole chicken leg last night for dinner, the look of pure joy on his face made my whole day.”
Who knew that a chicken drumstick could bring so much happiness? When you are a child, every food you try is like an adventure for the taste buds. All of the flavors are still so new.
11. “My ex-wife hid my daughter from me for nearly 2 years. Yesterday, after 696 days of separation, I took the best photo I ever could.”
We have no idea what led up to the unfortunate separation. However, it’s so incredible that the two of them were finally reunited. The father and his daughter missed each other dearly during their time apart.
12. “My daughter’s reaction to seeing a ballerina for the first time.”
The little girl saw the ballerina and her eyes instantly lit up. She immediately knew what she wanted to be when she grew up. Ballerinas get to wear the most beautiful costumes!
13. “My 3-year-old daughter caught her first fish today.”
Sure, it’s not a big fish. However, compared to her it is. It must have put up quite a fight when she tried to reel it in.
14. “My son is home from NICU, after two weeks. BEST FEELING EVER.”
The parents and baby were both overjoyed that the doctors finally released the baby. Two weeks is an awfully long time to wait. However, they are very grateful that everything turned out okay.
15. “He looks so happy for his lettuce hat.”
We think the real reason he looks so happy is that the lettuce represents food to him. Turtles really enjoy green leafy vegetables. He has a whole giant leaf waiting to be consumed right on his head!
16. “I officially changed jobs today. My new job is ‘Cat Bed'”
The man gave up his old job title in exchange for a new one. It might not be a glamorous job, but it is very rewarding. He gets to spend his days hanging out with three loving cats now.
17. “I won my pro debut against Natalie King and fight of the night!”
Mixed Martial Arts is very competitive and comes with a lot of challenges. Getting a professional to accept your debut fight isn’t easy. However, winning your debut fight by unanimous decision like she did is even harder!
18. “My nephew challenged me to spin him around as fast as I could.”
The man clipped his phone to his belt to take a photo of the nephew as he spun him. It captured the feeling of the moment perfectly. It was one of pure bliss.
19. “Mum came home after 8 weeks stuck in India. Here’s Dad — the least romantic man in the world waiting.”
He isn’t normally known for his romantic gestures. However, after almost two months apart from his wife, he had to make an exception. His heart won out in the end.
20. “I think my son enjoyed his first time in the snow, even if he couldn’t move his arms.”
The little guy was mesmerized by the falling snowflakes. They were so beautiful to him. Meanwhile, his parents made sure that he was all bundled up and warm.
21. “Set my GoPro up next to some crumbled cheese in my garden…Result?… One happy mouse.”
It turns out, mice really do love cheese. It’s not just some myth that cartoons and movies invented. Cheese is actually one of mice’s favorite types of food.
22. “My daughter has been asking every Christmas and birthday for 5 years for her dream dog. This week we adopted her new best friend.”
The wait was totally worth it! It took several years to convince the parents that it was a good idea, but they finally gave in. According to the dad, the two of them are now inseparable.
23. “My daughter’s priceless reaction to a Boa constrictor.”
Technically, it’s a python. However, the girl and the dad didn’t know the difference. They were both fascinated by the beautiful snake.
24. “Before & after telling him he’s a good boy.”
As you can tell by his facial expression, the dog definitely knows when his owners are pleased with him. He also knows that when they call him a good boy, he often gets a treat afterward. That’s the best part!
25. “I finally completed my life long dream and made a ‘Big Art Attack’.”
We’re not entirely sure what a “Big Art Attack” is, however, it certainly looks like a lot of fun. The neighbors in the area are going to love it. How could they not?
26. “Two years ago today I stood up for the first time, 10 days after getting new lungs.”
The girl was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was very young. We are so happy that her symptoms are finally starting to improve. It’s been a long journey to get where she is now.
27. “My 4-year-old Daughter’s reaction to the sun shining… this kid never fails to make me smile!”
It’s something that kids all intuitively know — good weather is a reason to celebrate. The sun is really awesome. It is just so warm and exhilarating.
28. “Eight years ago I took an insane risk and moved to Finland from PA with just a suitcase and without knowing Finnish. Today I got my Finnish passport!”
She is now officially a citizen of the Northern European country. It’s a big change compared to Pennsylvania. However, with enough time and effort, it’s possible to make a new life anywhere.
29. “Just wanted to share a picture of my little man who was born at 24 weeks and is now a happy healthy 3 year old! This is the first time they let me hold him.”
She shared the photo in honor of World Prematurity Day. It is observed every year on November 17th. The day is organized to raise awareness about issues surrounding babies born prematurely and their families.
30. “I love ducks…just trickle some water in their pool and they’re deliriously happy.”
It doesn’t take much to keep a family of ducks amused. All they need is a little bit of water to swim in and they’re good to go. They can play all day in a tiny pool.
31. “After spending the first 257 days of her life in the hospital, my niece gets to go home today!”
The little girl was born really early. No one was sure how long it was going to be until she was able to go home, but in the end, it took over eight months. It was a lot of time to wait.
32. “Photographer caught me watching/filming my dad and sister in their father daughter dance.”
There were two beautiful moments captured here. In fact, we think that the brother’s reaction is just as touching as the actual father-daughter dance. They are all one big happy family.
33. “Finally got a photo that captures how happy he is.”
He is one of the cutest dogs that we have ever seen. In this picture, the pup is eight months old. His smile is absolutely adorable.
34. “My father reading to my daughter. My heart just melted.”
The man is a pretty amazing grandpa. We’re sure that the family will cherish this image for many years to come. Both the man and the granddaughter love their storytime together.
35. “Yesterday, my mother was able to visit the beach for the first time in years.”
It’s not often that she gets to go to the beach. It isn’t possible to operate normal wheelchairs or scooters on the sand, especially wet sand. However, this high-tech machine allows her to really get out and enjoy the day.
36. “My two pups are super excited about having a sleepover with their buddies!”
We’re not sure which pup is which. They all have very similar markings and features. However, all four of them look very happy about the sleepover.
37. “My dad drives a special needs school bus. This year, he invited all the kids to his house to see Santa Claus.”
Mrs. Claus showed up for the fun holiday event too. In addition, he bought gifts for Santa to give to the kids. It was a great day for everyone involved.
38. “I got married to my best friend yesterday & while we didn’t love the fact that it rained, at least we got this shot.”
The unexpected rain turned out to give them one of the best shots from the entire wedding. It is stunningly beautiful. It really captured the essence of the moment.
39. “My son REALLY enjoys bath time.”
Some kids don’t like getting baths. However, this dude loves them. Chilling in the sink and rinsing off is one of his top ten favorite activities.
40. “Took my nan for a walk in the forest to see the bluebells and she was so happy.”
We would be happy too if we went for a walk in that forest. The blue flowers are absolutely magical. There are so many of them!
41. “A mother listening to her deceased son’s heartbeat inside the recipient the heart was donated to.”
A small piece of the boy will live on through the donor-recipient. The transplant went well and his heart saved her life. It’s such a touching story.
42. “One day I would like to be this happy.”
The dog received an entire cheeseburger and it made his day. Although, he didn’t really savor the flavor at all. He chomped it all down in one big bite.
43. “Our first Father & Son outfit!”
It’s a pretty adorable combination. The boy is a little slice out of the dad’s pizza pie. It’s the first of many cute outfits to come.
44. “We celebrated my grandma’s 90th birthday today at her retirement home and I got to meet this guy. He’s a retired doctor and he delivered me 33 years and 2 days ago.”
It’s amazing some of the stories you hear when you make friends with people in retirement homes. You might be more connected to each other than you know. That’s what these two found out when they started talking.
45. “My godson thinks he’s the Royal Prince.”
They certainly look pretty similar. We can understand how someone might think they were the same person. The boy is a true celebrity look-alike.
46. “Kids asked for a cardboard boat, I made them a cardboard boat.”
Now the two aspiring explorers can sail all around the living room. Their ship is surprisingly realistic. With the power of imagination, it can take them anywhere that they want to go.
47. “My buddy was put in a wheelchair for over ten years due to a tragic car accident. He walked today, for the first time since that day.”
It was a miracle. Technology is able to do some incredible things now and it just keeps getting better every year. We can’t wait to see what exciting advancements they come up with in the future.
48. “Over the weekend my friend wore his Ghostbuster outfit and visited this kid’s birthday party.”
The kid’s jaw dropped when he saw the Ghostbuster walk in. He was beyond excited. Fighting ghosts is such a cool past time. He never thought he would get to meet an actual Ghostbuster in person.
49. “My daughter turned 19 the other day. We had to use the candles we had on hand.”
They didn’t have a 19, however, they did have an 18 and a 20. They had to improvise. The birthday girl filled the spot in between the years!
50. “My little brother just became the most prolific braille reader in school history… he doubled the next best reader.”
It’s a really exciting accomplishment. It just goes to show that hard work pays off. He spent hundreds of hours reading braille and became quite good at it.
51. “My new puppy looks stupidly happy after walks.”
The dog’s expression is a look of blissful exhaustion. He is both happy and extremely tired at the same time. He can’t even keep his ears up straight!
52. “I finished a Tiny 375 sq ft house that my dad had started before he passed away in January.”
It was a labor of love. We imagine that working on the house made him feel closer to his father, and in the end, it came out looking amazing. They made such good use of the tiny space.
53. “My 74 year old grandpa with COPD and I on a roller coaster. He was so excited!”
He doesn’t let his chronic pulmonary disease stop him from enjoying life. He is always up for some excitement. Even roller coasters aren’t out of the question.
54. “My dad just got a kitten.”
The kitten was tiny enough to fit in the palm of his hand. She couldn’t have been more than a few weeks old. The can of cat food was a giant feast for her, but she did her best to finish it.
55. “Have you ever been this happy to have your chest hair shaved?”
It’s pretty hilarious how much the dog enjoys being groomed. Many dogs fight with groomers when they try to do their job. Not this friendly pup though. She loves a good trim.
56. “My son playing ball.”
The boy is really in his element. We wouldn’t be surprised if he one day grows up to become a professional player. He certainly looks like he knows what he is doing.
57. “My little gaming buddy.”
There is no better gaming buddy than this little kitten. She doesn’t really understand the games, but she does like to hang out and watch. It’s great because she never demands that anyone share the controller with her.
58. “I never thought I’d find my perfect match on tinder! But here we are 2 years later with an engagement ring and an engagement watch!”
Online dating actually produces a surprising amount of longterm couples. It’s not just for short-term flings anymore. You might even end up meeting your soul mate.
59. “My boys sharing a moment together.”
Manning a train is two-person job. In this case though, one of those people is a cat! Playing with trains is a lot more fun when you have someone else to play with you.
