When I met Jose, the 8-year-old boy I sponsor in Guatemala, I didn’t know what to expect.
Jose traveled for hours, standing in the back of a crowded pickup truck, to meet me. As I watched the truck bounce along the rugged dirt roads, I wondered how he and his family arrived in one piece. Yet, when he jumped down from the truck, his face was lit up with pure joy, his arms wide open in welcome.
Most of us wouldn’t tolerate such transportation, let alone endure it with a smile. But Jose’s happiness wasn’t tied to comfort or convenience.Â
His family’s home was one room, had dirt floors, and a shared outhouse.Â
 Yet, despite these conditions, Jose was rich—rich in love, faith, and gratitude.Â
To thank me, Jose passionately sang a song of gratitude, his father strumming along on an old guitar. They must have practiced for weeks, and their sweet gesture brought tears to my eyes. It touched my heart in a way I will never forget.Â
Why is it that some people who have so little are filled with so much joy, while others with so much struggle to find it?Â
The answer, I realized, is this: Happiness isn’t about what you have; it’s about how you see it.Â
Jose, while poor in material wealth, was incredibly rich in his appreciation for life. He valued his family, his faith, and every small blessing that came his way. His life was abundant because he chose to see it that way.Â
So, what does happiness really take in a world that constantly pushes us to want more?
If I learned anything from Jose, it’s to appreciate what you already have. Real abundance is right here, right now, if we stop to see it.Â
Thank you, Jose, for the profound lesson. Your joy and gratitude will stay with me forever.
I challenge you to decide right now, what will you do to appreciate what you have, as a daily practice?Â
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