How Will You Spread Joy Today?
What $5 Mike Taught Me at a Vegan Restaurant Off Rainbow
We were halfway through a dreamy meal at Tarantino’s Vegan Italian, tucked just off Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas, when a man walked in wearing a backward “Italia” cap.
He looked like he might’ve just come from a mechanic’s garage.
Instead, he brought something sacred.
He leaned toward a young man near the door and asked,
“Have you eaten here before?”
The guy shook his head.
“Well,” the man said, “this is the best Italian food I’ve ever had. And the people are so nice.”
Then he sat at the table next to us and struck up a conversation with the woman seated one table down.
When she left with her takeout, he turned to us.
I don’t remember who spoke first.
I only remember that thirty minutes passed like five.
That it felt like speaking to someone who had touched the edge of life—and walked back with his hands open.
His name was Mike.
He’s 68.
And in 2020, he was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer.
One round of chemo.
The tumor vanished.
The doctors called it miraculous.
Mike calls it God.
Since then, he’s made it his mission—not to retreat, but to reach out.
He carries $5 bills in his pocket and gives them to strangers, along with a small black card.
On one side: a white fedora logo.
On the crown of the hat: $5MIKE
Below it, this message:
“In 2020 I was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. I was blessed to receive a miraculous healing from God and am cancer free.
This experience has led me to a new endeavor focused on encouraging and inspiring others, exemplifying the human capacity for overcoming adversity and reminding everyone of their God-given inherent value.”
That night, Mike handed us two fives—
One for our waitress.
One for the hairstylist he recommended down the street.
But the money wasn’t the point.
The message on the other side of the card was.
God is good ALL the time
Miracles happen everyday
There’s nothing worse than wasted talent
Family is forever and a day
No one meets you half way
Prayers work
Failure is not an option
If you want something, go get it
At the bottom, in small print, but with weight:
How will you spread JOY today?
That question stays with me.
Because Mike doesn’t believe joy is something you wait for.
He believes it’s something you carry. And something you give.
He believes in divine healing.
But also in hustle.
In generosity.
In not wasting what you’ve been given—time, talent, or the miracle of a second chance.
Mike reminds you, just by showing up, that survival isn’t the end of the story.
It’s the start of a new assignment.
So here’s the question he leaves with each of us:
What will you do with your next five dollars?
Or your next five minutes?
Or your next second chance?
Joy doesn’t spread on its own.
But when you give it away—intentionally, consistently—it becomes contagious.
If Mike’s story stirred something in you, if it reminded you that even the smallest gestures can ripple outward, then here’s your invitation: don’t let that spark fade.
Below, you’ll find a simple challenge inspired by $5 Mike to help you spread joy in the next five minutes. You don’t need a plan. Just a willingness to pass it on.
If this message moved you, share it with someone who could use a reminder that they matter—and that joy is still alive in the world, one small act at a time.
The 5-Minute Joy-Spreading Challenge
Inspired by $5 Mike — Because survival isn’t the end. It’s the start of a new assignment.
“How will you spread JOY today?” — $5 Mike
Why This Matters
Joy isn’t just a feeling.
It’s a choice. A practice. A ripple.
This worksheet is your reminder that it doesn’t take a miracle to become one.
It just takes five minutes—and a little intention.
Step 1: Choose Your Moment
Pick one of the following:
I have five dollars
I have five minutes
I have five words of encouragement
I have something I’ve been given and want to pass it on
Circle or underline one.
Or write your own:
My moment of joy today: ___________________________________________
Step 2: Make It Real
Use the list below or write your own joyful gesture. Choose one.
Spread $5 worth of joy:
Tip extra and tell them why.
Buy someone a coffee.
Leave $5 in a library book with a note.
Spread 5 minutes of joy:
Text someone a memory you love.
Send a voice note that says, “I’m thinking of you.”
Write a thank-you note to someone from your past.
Spread 5 words of joy:
“You made my day better.”
“You matter so much.”
“I see your strength.”
“You are not alone.”
“I believe in you.”
My joy-giving action today: _________________________________________
Step 3: Reflect
How did it feel to offer joy without expecting anything back?
Did it change your energy, your day, or your perspective?
Would you do it again tomorrow?
Notes:
Step 4: Keep the Ripple Going
Who do you know that could use this challenge?
Could you invite them to do it with you tomorrow?
You never know what your simple act might spark.
Want Weekly Joy-Inspired Habits?
Inside The Habit Healer’s Mindset Inner Circle, we turn moments like this into a weekly rhythm—practices that nourish your spirit, your energy, and your purpose.
Join us here.
Let’s build a life where healing leads to joy—and joy leads to action.
Love this! My favorite thing to say to people, and I say it daily, is I APPRECIATE YOU. So, Laurie, today and each day you pour yourself into this valuable Stuckstack community: I APPRECIATE YOU!
If I think something nice about a person, even one just passing by in the store, I share it with them. It can be as simple as ‘I love the color of your shirt.' It brings a smile to their face and hopefully lightens their day just a bit.