Today, I cried as I looked at my acceptance letter from the college of my dreams, along with an attached financial aid letter that will cover almost all of the first year's tuition. I have always grown up poor and two years ago my mom was diagnosed with cancer and underwent numerous, expensive surgeries, and thought I would never be able to go to art school to pursue my dreams. The fact that my dream is still within reach MMT.

Today, I received a simple gift of human kindness. About a year ago, I spent a few weeks in a small village in Nicaragua - and upon leaving I forgot my baseball cap that I wore every day while I was there. Unknown to me, my hat was passed through the hands of several people to find my cousin who was doing research in a different part of the country (a few of the villagers had met him), so it could be brought back to me in US. Over a year later, my hat is home. It means so much that those with so little banded together to return my hat to me. MMT

Today, I got a friend request on Facebook from a girl I didn't know. About to ignore it, I noticed the message: - Is this Lily? - or Lilystar? Lilystar was my handle on a forum I belonged to in the 8th grade. The girl and the others on that site were the only ones that kept me alive when I was at my lowest of lows while fighting depression. I had since lost touch with them long ago. Reconnecting with her years later, and making plans to meet in person MMT.

Today, desperately needing a pick-me-up, I was reading through Marc and Angel's "75 Day Brightening Stories of Generosity," which is a recap of some of the positive stories on MMT. Just as I began to smile for the first time all week, one of my colleagues walked over and put a bowl of fruit on my desk, beautifully arranged. He said, "You look like you need a little extra love today." MMT

Today, my dad has been traveling 3 hours away every week for 6 years. He gets up on Monday mornings at 3am to make the trip. He did this while I was in high school so I could continue my schooling. His body and mind have been exhausted by this trip over the years, but he's been too scared to make a change. He got laid off recently and was upset at first, but found something much better and closer. Life's circumstances working out and my dad's amazing will MMT.

Today, when you dropped me off after we hung out, you called out to me as I stepped out of your car. You said, "Take care of yourself, okay?" and I responded with an absent-minded, "Sure." But then your voice changed tone. "I'm serious, Jess. You're important to me. Take care of yourself," you repeated. You have no idea how much I needed that. Your true friendship MMT.

Today, after months of sadness from a broken heart, I had a magical night - dinner and a long walk with a close friend through old factories, abandoned buildings, random train tracks and broken fences. Sitting by the river after our long walk, he admitted to having feelings for me when we were in university 7 years ago. It made me smile inside. Life's unexpected moments when you need them most MMT.

Today, I read my girlfriend MMT stories until she fell asleep. We are on a video call from here in Manila to her place in Montreal. I'm watching her sleep at this very moment. We haven't seen each other for more than a year, but we talk every day. And we are thankful to all of you who submit MMT stories. You have strengthened our long distance relationship by giving us something meaningful to share and discuss each night. MMT

Today, I was short 4.87 cents at the grocery store. Standing at the counter, embarrassed, with a long line of people behind me, I desperately reached into all my pockets looking for a miracle, and ended up finding a $5 bill in the pocket of the jacket I borrowed this morning from my best friend. MMT

Today, after falling into a coma exactly one year ago while giving birth to our first child, she awoke this morning on the morning of our son’s first birthday, conscious and alert. Doctors say she will make a full recovery and be back on her feet within the next 4-6 weeks. MMT

Today I got my ACT scores back. When I was in grade school I was diagnosed with dyslexia and had a very hard time learning to read and spell, among other things. I had to work relentlessly for 5 or 6 years to keep up to par with my classmates, and in class many years ago when I read slow or made mistakes everyone would laugh and make jokes. But all that hard work paid off. I got a 32 on my first try. I can't stop crying. MMT.

Today, I woke up this morning with my best friend holding my hand. I got in a serious car accident last night. She was the first to show up at the hospital last night and didn't leave my side all night. We've been fighting for a few weeks and I realized that what we were fighting about was superficial. Her being there for me even though we hadn't talked in awhile MMT.

Today, I saw a girl playing a cello on the street. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard and I went up to her and tried to hand her some money, but she refused. She said, "I don't play for money. I play for me. The cello is my escape, my happiness, and I would die without it. Paying me for playing is like paying me for breathing. Enjoying the music with me is enough." MMT

Today at work one of my customers, who looked unhappy, asked how I was doing, to which I replied, "I'm doing absolutely fantastic!" The customer gave me a strange look, then smiled and said, "Well that's a fantastic answer! I don't hear that kind of enthusiasm much these days." We chatted for a moment as I rang up his merchandise, and then as he left he said, "Your positivity just made my day a little brighter. Thank you." MMT

Today, my friend gave me a bouquet of flowers, just because. She's been struggling with depression for several years. She said she gave me the flowers today because she knew they would make me smile; and she says my smile “makes her smile.” MMT

Today, I was sitting on a park bench waiting for my mom to come pick me up. I was playing with my phone when I looked up to see a homeless man walking down the sidewalk in front of me. We made eye contact and he asked, "Can you spare a smile?" His question caught me off guard and instantly made me smile. And he replied, “Thank you!” and then he walked on. MMT

Today, I was at the grocery store when a young mother was pushing one of the carts that has a built in car on the front for her son to drive. He was spinning the steering wheel all over the place and his mother was making the cart go side to side, trying to match his steering without his knowledge. He thought he had all the power and control and she kept playfully telling him to slow down despite the fact that she controlled the speed. He was so happy. And this simple moment in the midst of my hectic day MMT.

Today, after being in a coma for 72 hours, I awoke to my wife and three teenage children all sleeping in chairs surrounding my hospital bed. Their love MMT.

Today, after years of struggling with my weight, and dealing with an overweight family in denial, my children age 5 and 7 rode their bikes and ran with me while I worked out. My wife started working out too. My kids are super excited about their upcoming races with me and their mom. Realizing that the things I do and say matter, and that we’re all in this together as a family MMT.

Today, it's been three years since Good Friday of 2009 when my neighbor had a brain aneurysm and was in the hospital for a month. Her husband spent Easter and many dinners with us. Now three years later, on Good Friday again, my healthy neighbor excitedly informed my mom that her husband was taking her somewhere special but wouldn't tell her where. Her strength and recovery MMT.

Today, when her teenage son asked us how we have managed to stay best friends for so long, before I could reply, she looked at me for a second, as if to study me, and said, “She’s one person I can still be completely silly with, no matter how serious life gets.” MMT

Today, it’s been lifetime since my father told me, "It'll never work between you two." But here I am 40 years later, married to her, and still the happiest man alive. MMT

Today, as my boyfriend looked at me from across the dinner table on our one year dating anniversary, he said, “Sometimes people aren’t who they seem to be, and sometimes people are so much more than you originally thought.” MMT

Today, at work a girl of maybe eight or nine was sitting next to our shop dog and happily talking to him, as many kids do. Then I saw her parents standing a few steps away holding hands anxiously, with tears of joy in their eyes. It turns out that their daughter is severely autistic and this was the first time they had ever heard her speak in full sentences. Simple things not being so simple MMT.