In a town as small as Huntsville, Texas, it's hard not to describe it as boring. It is a college town filled with mom and pop shops and prisons. You could look at this town and think with the glass half empty and say that there is nothing to do and nothing to see, or you could look at it with the glass half full and find all the happiness that lies within this quaint little city. I can think of 100 things that make me happy to live in Huntsville, but here are just a few of the many:

1. Starbucks on campus at 8 a.m., mostly because you find very motivated people here at 8 a.m. excited and ready to start their days.

2. The dog park, because how can one be sad around a bunch of dog lovers and their fur balls?

3. Humps on a beautiful day.

4. The Villas pool during the summer.

5. Quarter night at Shenanigans; cheap drinks would bring anyone happiness.

6. Huntsville state park. Not only is it beautiful all year long, but everyone there is trying to relax and enjoy themselves. It's just a lovely atmosphere to be in.

7. The top of the parking garage at sunset. You can see all of Huntsville in the perfect light.

8. The fact that the town is such a hometown feel. Everyone is friendly, polite and respectable, what could make you happier than a kind person?

9. Cheap movies. The movie theater here is unbelievably inexpensive. I usually pay $9.00 to get into a movie anywhere else, but you pay $9.00 in Huntsville for your ticket and snacks.

10. The statue of Sam Houston. This icon of Huntsville is famous all over Texas and we are lucky enough to have it as our welcome sign into this wonderful town.

11. City Hall cafe Sweet Tea. Enough said.

12. Town parades. Sam Ave. always seems to be shut down for a parade. Not only does the free candy bring happiness, but so does the idea that the community cares enough to come together and celebrate things like the the Huntsville Hornets homecoming.

13. "Demon's Road," if thrills make you happy.

14. The beautiful scenery down every back road. You'll always get where you need to go, and you'll always see a beautiful house along the way.

15. Because we aren't too close to a big city the sky is always lit up with stars, which just helps you appreciate life as a whole.

16. Precious Boutiques that have all you could ask for and more.

17. Hammocks. Because Huntsville is in the heart of the Piney Woods, you can pretty much hammock anywhere you'd like: on campus, at the state park, or even in your backyard.

18. Campus Police. Police usually scare people, but the campus police are there to be more than your protector. They genuinely care about the students and community.

19. Bearkat football. From the tailgates to the games this energetic atmosphere is hard not to love.

20. The Godly people. There is a church every five feet in Huntsville, and even if you aren't a believer, their presence and faith is unbelievably comforting to know that you live in a town with these kinds of people.

So there you have just a few of the many things that make one grateful to live here. If you ever stop in you won't see much, but that's because most of the joys in Huntsville are joys that you have to feel. You don't understand until you live here and know all of the pure happiness that this town holds.