👋 Hey, this week is a celebration of family, gratitude, and the occasional wild twist. A game ball finds its way into the right hands, a soldier returns for a moment that stops time, and a stepdad gets the recognition of a lifetime. Plus, a lion with an eye for camera gear.

Let’s jump right in👇

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Quick Lifts ❤️

Feel good stories from Happilynews.com guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Young Pitcher Honors Great-Grandpa With First-Ever Game Ball

Eight-year-old Cash shares a special bond with his great-grandpa, who first taught him the love of the game. So when Cash pitched a gem and earned his very first game ball, there was only one person he wanted to give it to: Pops.

Stepdad Who Raised Her Since She Was a Baby Left Speechless After Stepdaughter Names Newborn in His Honor

Brad raised his stepdaughter Haley since she was just a baby – so when she welcomed her own little girl, she knew exactly how to honor him.

Teen Shocked as Deployed Brother Appears at Homecoming Queen Ceremony

Ethan had been stationed overseas for a year before secretly returning to be there as his sister was crowned homecoming queen.

Happy Headlines 📰

It’s not all doom and gloom out there. Here’s some positive news items from publications around the world.

💪 High schoolers returning from prom hailed as heroes for helping save family from fire

🎓 GoFundMe for teen who rushed to work instead of partying after graduation skyrockets to $180k

👨‍✈️ Cat who survived nearly 400-foot fall adopted by rescue pilot who saved her

👏 “If you felt like you had no one cheering for you…” Heartwarming dad gives every graduate a fanfare of applause

🥨 Bodega owner gives kids free food for good grades: ‘I like seeing the smile on their faces’

🐶 Dog chained to fence during Florida hurricane finds a forever home — and inspires a new pet law

🔥 California developer builds first neighborhood where all the homes are resistant to wildfires

🎂 Identical twins celebrate their 100th birthday — and reveal tip for a long life

🏔️ A man climbed Mount Everest to install a defibrillator — 3 weeks later, it saved a life

🎗️ Cancer survivor travels 10,000 miles to meet UK man who saved his life

Smileworthy Snapshots 📸 

A unique, sometimes quirky, but always eye-catching photo feature each week.

Lion Kingpin Pulls Off the Purr-fect Heist

A mighty lion was caught casually strolling through the grass... with a high-end telephoto lens clamped firmly in its jaws. The lens? Accidentally dropped by a very unlucky (and probably very panicked) photographer nearby.

Raddy didn’t realize what the lion had nabbed until he zoomed in: “Gosh, I was surprised,” he told PetaPixel. You and us both, Dansen.

Though the lens was eventually recovered, it didn’t escape without a few toothy upgrades. Let’s just say it now comes with added bite and a ‘pre-chewed’ aesthetic. And while some Redditors thought it was staged, Raddy set the record straight – it was just one curious cat and one very expensive new chew toy.

So next time you're on safari? Maybe hang onto your gear. Or at least bring a backup. Preferably one that isn’t quite so... snack-sized.

📷 Watch the full (and very real) lion lens lift here:

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Exclusive Happily+ content. Here we share lifestyle, health, home improvement, food & drink and finance tips from experts in their fields on how to live a happier, healthier life.

10 Ways to Stay Positive During Challenging Times

Feeling overwhelmed by life’s ups and downs? Focussing on small, actionable steps like these science-backed strategies can help you stay positive during challenging times: Start a gratitude journal, build a morning routine, reduce negative media exposure, move your body, connect with loved ones, focus on what you can control, meditate, set achievable goals, help others, and seek professional support if needed. Even small changes can shift your mindset and build resilience.

What Are the Best Ways to Stay Positive During Challenging Times?

In a world filled with rising stress levels, economic uncertainty, and rapid global change, the question on many minds in 2025 is clear: how to stay positive during challenging times? Whether you’re facing burnout at work, navigating personal loss, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the pace of modern life, maintaining a hopeful outlook can feel like an uphill battle.

But here’s the good news: staying positive doesn’t mean ignoring your struggles. It means learning how to build habits and perspectives that help you stay grounded, calm, and forward-looking, even in the midst of adversity. Backed by science, psychology, and real-world insight, the following strategies offer practical, everyday steps to boost your resilience, mood, and mindset.

When life throws you curveballs –whether it’s financial stress, health concerns, or global uncertainty – it can feel overwhelming. But research shows that staying positive isn’t just possible, it’s powerful. Positivity isn’t about ignoring reality. It’s about shifting your focus to what you can manage, building mental resilience, and creating healthy habits that lift your spirit. Here are 10 practical and research-backed ways to keep your mindset strong, even in tough moments.

1. Start a Daily Gratitude Practice

Gratitude is more than just saying “thank you.” It’s about intentionally noticing and appreciating the good things in your life. Even during hardship, there are always small moments that bring joy – a kind word, a warm cup of tea, or a laugh shared with a friend.

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Writing these things down trains your brain to seek out positivity. This shift in perspective can help reduce stress and increase emotional resilience over time.

• How to Start: Use a simple notebook or gratitude journal app

• Prompts: “What made me smile today?” or “Three things I’m grateful for right now”

• Backed by Science: According to a study by Emmons & McCullough (2003), people who kept gratitude journals for 2 weeks reported increased happiness and fewer health complaints.

2. Create a Consistent Morning Routine

The way you start your morning can shape your entire day. A consistent routine helps set a positive tone and creates a sense of stability, even when everything else feels unpredictable.

Start with something small that grounds you – a short meditation, stretching, or reading a few pages of an inspiring book. These rituals can anchor you in the present and ease you into the day with intention rather than anxiety.

• What to Include: Light stretching, five minutes of mindfulness, a healthy breakfast

• Why It Works: Routine reduces anxiety by minimizing decision fatigue and uncertainty

• Pro Tip: Avoid checking your phone first thing – opt for journaling or a quiet moment instead

3. Limit Negative Media Exposure

Staying informed is important, but overexposure to negative news can heighten stress and create a distorted view of reality. If your media consumption is making you anxious, it may be time to set healthy boundaries.

Consider a media diet: designate times to check the news and stick to trustworthy, balanced sources. Then, replace doomscrolling with uplifting content that inspires or educates.

• How to Cut Back: Set app time limits, unfollow toxic accounts, designate “media-free” hours

• What We’ve Found: Readers of Happilynews.com report feeling noticeably more uplifted by engaging with positive news daily

Before You Go…A Serotonin Booster* 📺

Photographer offers free portraits, neighbor asks for his dog to be the star 🐶😭

*Studies show that watching cute, heartwarming videos can boost your mood. So sit back and start your weekend positively!

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