Welcome back to Faith & Joy, a weekly newsletter that makes you smile no matter how hard you try not to!

Hey everyone,

Want to learn a random fun fact about Friday? The second most-loved day in the U.S. used to be called “Frigg”- the Anglo-Saxon name for the Norse goddess Freyja. Many believe it was commonly called Freyja’s Day and later converged into Fre-Day, then finally merged into what we call Friday.

Freyja was revered as the goddess of many things including love, fertility, magic, and even war. No wonder the weekends can be so wild, just like our featured stories below! ❤️

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Today's Enjoyment:

• Quote: Doing what you love…

• Video Reel: The beach is the best place for photo ops…

• Trending Loveable Stories:

  • Tourist in Thailand Doubts His Guides

  • 🌴Bear Makes Splash at Florida Beach 🐻

Neck Pain, Back Pain, or Whatever Pain? Sounds Like A Pillow Problem 😉

For those of us aging folks (you know who you are), one bad sleeping position could completely incapacitate us for the next few days. Absolutely tragic. If you’re as fragile as me, then you’ll really resonate with this: I’ll sprain my neck just by turning wrong on my pillow.

That’s why I’m a stickler for the pillow I use. It really has to be just perfect. After I found Dosaze, I stopped looking anywhere else. Since getting their Contoured Orthopedic Pillow, I’ve yet to sprain my neck from sleeping again (knock on wood).

With a 60-night sleep trial and a 3-year warranty, I say it’s worth the try. What else should you know about it?

• Aligns neck and spine to relieve neck pain for good

• CertiPUR-US® Certified Premium Memory Foam

• Designed for side, back, and stomach sleepers

• Naturally cooling, anti-microbial fabric

With Father’s Day just around the corner, they’re running 15% off site-wide sale ending on June 18th. If dad’s had some pain recently (or anyone really), you know what to do. You can use the code BESTDAD for 15% off everything - check our their collection here!

Quote of the Day 💭

Reel of the Day 📽️

This is a family vacation MUST! 📸😍

Trending Stories 📰

OPTIMISM

Tourist in Thailand Doubts His Guides

Turning 40 often feels like a heavy milestone, prompting reflection and a slower pace of life. But for John McMahon, that was far from the case.

Instead of a cliché birthday party, he found himself kayak-camping solo in northwestern Thailand.

Having lived in Thailand for 13 years, John frequently kayaked its waters. During the monsoon season, he'd venture to the forested mountains of Sangklaburi, where rivers swelled with rain. This region is home to the Karen hill tribes, who live in remote villages along the riverbanks.

After hiking through the night, John arrived at Kong Mon Tha village.

His first sight was two locals enjoying rice wine by the river at sunrise. Speaking loose Thai, they learned about the travel kayak in John's bag and offered to guide him further upstream for more challenging rapids.

Despite meeting these guides as they drank at sunrise, John followed them through a bog and up a waterfall. Hours later and still pushing through the dense jungle, panic set in as John wondered if they lured him into the wild to rob him.

As their journey reached a pineapple orchard, however, John’s fears dissipated. The guides simply had a hankering for fresh pineapples and they invited John to join them by the river.

Their intentions were pure; adventuring with a stranger under a beautiful sky.

The river's cold, clear water invigorated John as he followed his guides back to their village. They navigated the powerful current on makeshift floating jugs, emerging from the river freezing but grinning. When John praised their swimming skills, one guide admitted he couldn't swim.

Shocked but grateful, John watched them wave goodbye and return to their village, leaving him with a memorable 40th birthday adventure and zero tales of a wild jungle robbery.

(Read John’s full, breathtaking recollection of this experience here)

Pack Babbel for Your Summer Adventures

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ANIMALS

🌴Bear Makes Splash at Florida Beach 🐻

Summer vibes were in full swing when a black bear joined the fun at a bustling beach in Destin, Florida.

As captured in footage by amazed beachgoers, the bear confidently swam through the Gulf of Mexico before making a grand entrance onto the sandy shore. It seems bears are quite the swimmers! The unexpected guest left the crowd in awe, with one witness sharing,

"Most people didn't realize it was a bear... the crowd was in shock."

Meanwhile, another lucky observer had an even closer encounter. While returning from a scuba diving adventure on their boat, they spotted the playful creature frolicking in the water.

"We couldn't tell what it was, so we turned the boat to get closer and that's when we realized it was a bear," they revealed as a woman in the background exclaimed, "I guess he's on vacation too."

Black bears are native to Florida with a population of around 4,000+ of the curious creatures.

However, it's important to remember that feeding bears is illegal. If you find yourself in close proximity to a bear, follow these tips from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: stand tall, speak calmly but assertively, avoid direct eye contact, back away slowly, and provide the bear with a clear escape route.

Summer surprises come in all shapes and sizes, and this bear's refreshing beach adventure reminds us to embrace unexpected moments of joy.

So, as you soak up the sun and make cherished memories this season, keep an eye out for delightful surprises around every corner.

(Click here to watch the full story)

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