As I sit here on my porch enjoying every bite of this salami and cheese sandwich, I can't help but notice that on the other side of the porch, my sister, Shannon, and my downstairs neighbor, Abby, glance at me between bits of hysteric laughter.  I decide to observe their animalistic behavior more carefully, as I know their laughter is somehow tied to me.  As I watch Shannon and Abby express joy at my expense, I learn two things.  #1: the species of animal that their animalistic behavior best represents is the Ape species.  And #2:  Their soulful laughter is coming from the simplest source... a large planting pot, empty of soil, but filling up quickly with empty beer cans.  They both take their last sips of their (current) beers, and toss the empty cans onto the pile pot of beer cans.  "Sorry Lyndsey, we will plant you something undeneath the cans.. HAHAHA".  I guess my Alaskan Daisies will not be moved to the larger pot anytime soon, but I can't complain because I'm happy that people are not littering.  I am also happy that my friends can find joy in even the littlest things, be it imaginary beer can plants, the sound of the empty cans hitting the pot, or maybe just the beers themselves (enough beers will make a person love anything). 

The lesson is as simple as the thousands of sources of happiness that exist in this universe.  We make our own lives and we choose our own happiness.  For me, the smell of impending rain, the sound of the banjo, and the way my dogs chase eachother are stimuli for instant euphoria.  Everybody has their own personal joy magnets, but they don't need to be limited; they are everywhere.  If you want to notice all of the many things around you that can and will lift you up, well that is up to you.  I can tell you that if you do notice them, you will be smiling and laughing much more.  And if you don't, then you will be missing out on a golden oppurtunity to make more sense of why you are on this Earth.