Hey there, friends! 👋

Today is Respect Your Cat Day! Take a moment to appreciate your feline friend for all the joy and companionship they bring into your life. Whether you're feeling happy or sad, your kitty will always be there for you.

With that in mind... let's dive into some good news and uplifting stories for today! 👇

Quote of the Day 🗣

Reba to the Rescue 🦸‍♀️

In just two months, Reba McEntire's restaurant, owned by the country music star and TV actress herself, has brought half a million visitors to the once-struggling town. Reba's Place, a 50-50 partnership with the Choctaw Nation, has provided a much-needed boost to Atoka's economy, which had been in decline for years.

Reba's Place has also provided quality jobs to the community, paying above the federal tipped minimum wage and offering health benefits to full-time employees. Despite some concerns about the restaurant's prices, many locals are excited about the changes that have come to their town due to the new restaurant. Atoka's economic development director, Carol Ervin, sees Reba's Place as the first step in an ambitious plan to redevelop the city.

The Lucky Village of Duleek 🍀

Two lucky residents of the small village of Duleek in County Meath, Ireland have won the Irish Lotto jackpot within the past six months. Both winning tickets were sold within a few hundred meters of each other, with the most recent ticket, which won €3.9 million (approximately $4.3 million), sold at Shane Bowe's Eurospar store. Bowe, who took over the store last year, said the big win was the "icing on the cake" and has created a feel-good factor in the village. The previous winning ticket, worth €8.9 million (approximately $9.8 million), was purchased at Seamus Lowthe's Londis store in October 2022.

Kathleen Sheridan, a Duleek resident, was part of a winning family syndicate that won €175 million (approximately $193 million) from the EuroMillions in 2019 - the biggest payout in Irish National Lottery history. Her sister-in-law, who is also from Duleek, won £600,000 (approximately $829,000) in the lottery in the late 1980s. Despite the odds of two residents of a small village winning the lottery being considered unlikely, it seems that lightning has struck twice in Duleek.

Special Note in a Secret Place 📝

Rose Farmer and her daughter visited a secondhand store in Gilbert to look for a costume in early March. While browsing through books, a folded note fell out of a $2.29 book by Carson McCullers called “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter”. The note was written by a father to his son, Trent, and read, “believe Trent – Believe You are loved and respected! So let's get going, the ride may be bumpy but we will get there. When you believe in you as much as I do you will be there. Dad”.

After posting a picture of the book and the note on Facebook, Farmer received many comments from people hoping she will find the original owner and being inspired by the contents of the note. Farmer believes that the secondhand encouragement is making a difference and that sometimes it takes a stranger to lift you up and say, “You know what? I believe in you. And you can, you can do great things, you know, you can overcome any obstacle”.

Hapi Hits😊

👕 Made this for you, dad: Son sows a button-down shirt for his dad in this wholesome video

😂 Don’t ask grandpa to watch the baby: Couple goes away, asks grandpa to watch the baby, and grandpa’s updates are hilarious

🐶 Protective pup: This husky just wants to protect the baby and it’s adorable.

HapiReview of the Day 🎉

Word of mouth is the best way that we can grow, so if you are enjoying The Hapiday Newsletter, please consider sharing it with a friend or 2! ❤️