Happy as a Pig in Mud...with Boots

Poor little Cinders. She wasn’t like her brothers and sisters when she was a piglet. While they were off splashing and snorting in the mud, Cinders watched from afar, likely envious of their fun. She and Rudolph could probably be best friends, since neither could join in their species games. Like Rudolph, Cinders’ story has a happy ending.

According to her owners who run a sausage farm in the United Kingdom, Cinders has a health diagnosis of mysophobia—a fear of dirt, germs and contamination. One of their daughters discovered Cinders’ phobia early on and suggested getting her boots. A little plastic boot that had been on a key chain fit her hoof perfectly, so the family got Cinders a pair of them so that she can root and dig in the mud with her siblings. So although Cinders is like any other pig now, her health diagnosis actually saved her life.

The family considers Cinders more like a pet now and will not be turning her into sausage. In fact, Cinders' unusual case has made her famous and helped the family raise money for Farm Crisis Network, a charity organization that benefits struggling farmers. To see video of this little piggie in action, click here to see the BBC Video.

This isn't just an excuse to show one of the cutest pictures we've ever seen...ok, maybe it was. But underneath the cuteness is a great lesson in being happier. If you encounter an obstacle to your happiness, it's important that you try different ways to overcome that obstacle until you find a solution. Every living thing—even Cinders the pig—deserves happiness, and you owe it to yourself to do whatever it takes to find it! [The Daily Mail]