Whether you're a high school student trying to decide what college you want to attend, a college student trying not to let finals get the best of you or a college graduate trying to find your way out in the real world, life always seems to have something new to throw your way. I think most of us can agree that the world is kind of messed up right now. From the presidential elections to the psycho clowns running around campus, it is no wonder why it can sometimes be really hard to stay positive. I like to think of myself as an optimist, or at least I try to be the majority of the time. But on days like yesterday, I just can’t help but to appreciate the beauty in the simple things in life.

It was a Friday morning, and not the best one at that. I had woken up early to go to McDonald’s in desperate hope of finding my lost room key. If I couldn’t find my key, I knew I'd have to pay $60 to replace it, which my college student budget certainly was not prepared for. While sitting in my driver’s seat at a red light stressing about my lost key, my class in a couple of hours, and midterms, I looked out my window into the car next to me. An elderly man was sitting in the front seat jamming out to whatever song was blaring from his radio. He covered all the bases: mouth wide open singing, head nodding, and a smile on his face. At first glance, I thought it was an odd sight. I had seen many of this type of car behavior in the past, but mostly it consisted of teenagers whipping and nay nay-ing to Fetty Wap. I thought it was a little strange, but then my gaze turned to the back seat of the car where there was a little girl sitting, presumably his granddaughter. She was also singing, her hands waving in the air and a smile on her face. Their smiles must have been contagious, because despite the bad start to my day I noticed a smile creeping onto my face. The little girl, moving her head along to the beat, noticed me watching and smiled. The look of pure bliss on her face and her grandfather’s face immediately dissolved all of my problems.

In that moment I was no longer worried about my key, my class or my midterms. Even if just for a second, I was able to forget all of my problems and get lost in the pure, simple happiness of watching a little girl dance with her grandpa.

Sometimes I think we forget how magical the world can be. How pure and simple happiness can be. Happiness doesn’t have to come in the form of huge, extravagant things. It isn’t complicated. Happiness can be found in your favorite song being on when you flip the radio station, or in a cute dog walking with its owner. It can come from the smell of coffee in the morning or acing a hard test. It can come from singing and dancing with someone you love.

We tend to get caught up in all that is bad and wrong in the world, and we forget to just live. We forget to live truly and joyously and to appreciate everything. Even the little things. Especially the little things.