The difference between feeling happy and hopeful or depressed and fearful often comes down to a choice to look on the bright side, no matter how deeply buried beneath self-pitying pessimism. Each day holds a new kindness, beauty, or miracle. All around are a multitude of God's tender mercies, some few of which I will endeavor to record here. I embark on this journey in the hopes of rekindling personal optimism, but if you, too, might benefit from a trifling happy thought, read on.