Hear ye! Hear ye! The Spring edition of the Happiness Box Project Initiative!

Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day…

…except an other day became everyday. This spring brought us too much rain, but I didn’t let the dreary skies bring me down. I didn’t let heavy rains ruin my goal of trying something new each day.

April showers not only brings May flowers, but also new friends. In March, Jac was my Lyft driver and he gave me his band’s CD. He also gave me a sticker with his Instagram and I decided to follow. I went to his show on 5 April 2019 at Forest and Main in Ambler, PA and loved his style. It was an hour bus ride to a town I haven’t really visited before, but Ambler is a nice small town with lovely boutiques and friendly people. As I waited for Jac with No K’s set, I sat with a young family and had the joy of chatting with them until the show started. Jac is a great performer and Jac with No K is a talented group of young men; the family I sat with thought so too and their young children loved dancing to the music too. I’ve had the opportunity to see him a few times since and I can’t wait to see what the rest of this summer brings in terms of seeing him again.

May saw many rainy days as well, but I went ax throwing for the first time on 10 May 2019 and learned that I am a natural. I kept hitting bullseyes and fours. It inspired me to get a tattoo and at first I wanted to get a hatchet girl, but decided against it for now. I had a better idea and the idea came to life when the sun decided to show up and the weather started heating up at the end of May. The Wraith has been one of my favourite Insane Clown Posse albums for the past fifteen years and I decided to get it as a tattoo.

I joined the inked club on 26 May 2019; Christina accompanied me for moral support. Antman, my artist, walked me back, placed the drawing of the Wraith on my ribcage, and after I approved the location, he had me lay down on the leather bed. I took a deep breath; people told me that the ribcage would hurt, however, I have a high tolerance to pain and it felt good. Forty minutes later, my first tattoo—the Wraith—was born. Christina took a few photos of the tattoo when it was done. I’ve been taking photos of the Wraith each day for the past month—I’m in love with my tattoo.

Many new experiences bloomed in the Spring, growth that added to the joyful beauty of my life. These experiences have made me very happy, as new experiences tend to make others more joyful and resilient, and I can’t wait to experience new things this summer. I hope that all of you will have the opportunity to do the same this summer.

Have a great time in the sun, fun with friends and family, and I hope that you create long lasting memories filled with laughter. Please remember that joy is portible and can be shared with everyone. See you in the fall!