I’m reading a book called Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness, by Ingrid Fetell Lee. If you need a lift (who doesn’t now?), get yourself a copy of this book immediately. I bought it awhile ago, feeling somewhat abashed that I’d been convinced by slick marketing to spend money on a superficial “feel good” book with little substance.
Oh, how happy I am to have been wrong. Joyful is a wonderful combination of stories, experiences and science that truly does have the power to make our lives better, without massive investments in time, energy or money. The author has spent a considerable amount of time figuring out what actually, truly makes people happy, and her conclusions are head-slappingly obvious–once stated–but usually overlooked.
I’ve only read the first three chapters, and I frankly can’t wait til five AM tomorrow morning (my time to read non-fiction, fiction is for nighttime) to pick it up again. Chapter One is about energy. “Color is visible energy”–no wonder we love multi-colored balloons and colorful M & M candies. Chapter Two is about Abundance (poo on minimalism, yay for confetti, rainbows and Dorothy Draper’s designs. See her decoration of the Greenbriar Hotel, and Moureaux’s design of the Sugamo Shinkin Banks in Japan.)
Chapter Three is about Freedom, and the reason I’m writing about Joyful in a blog about people and animals. Watching dogs run and play brings me joy, pure and simply. I get depressed when my dogs are injured and aren’t allowed to run free and play together. Reading this book has helped me understand why a bit more.
As Lee says, “In a moment of joy, we say we are carefree, freewheeling, footloose and fancy-free.” I remember dashing ahead of my parents in a national park when I was five-years old, exuberant and unleashed from constraints. My strongest memories of that time include a feeling of pure joy, balanced by confusion as to why my parents would walk stodigly behind me, saying “Slow down”. Slow down? Whatever for?
I can’t run like that now, but I can stroll through the countryside and watch my dogs dash and leap and pivot and run run run for the pure joy of going as fast as they can with nothing to stop them. Freedom.
Maggie finally got some freedom last week, and she is now up to 30 minute walks off leash, along with her PT exercises morning and night. If only I could bottle the look on her face when she first realized she was free. The radiance of joy on her face would brighten any day, cure any sadness, at least for a moment.
Play is often all about freedom, and yet we so often demean its importance. Friend and colleague Dr. Karen London and I believe so strongly in the power of play we wrote a book about it, Play Together, Stay Together, with lots of ideas about how to engage in healthy play with your dog.
In the spirit of freedom and play, I’ve included photos of dogs playing. Maggie still can’t engage in completely unrestricted play with Willie, so new photos of that will have to wait. (But not for long!) I might add some videos to this after a bit, but right now I need to go outside in a brief moment of rare sunshine and watch dogs be joyful. Lucky me.
And so, it’s to you dear reader: What brings you joy? What makes your dogs joyful? (Tootsie’s answer is simple: FOOD.)
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: We are building an ark. I’m only half joking, it has rained here so much that the earth is a sopping, wet sponge. More sand bags are being filled in surrounding towns. More flooding concerns (we had a horrific flood here not long ago, bridges still out, houses destroyed…). Seven inches of rain last Monday (we got over 12″ during the flood). Four inches in the rain gauge last night, emptied it Sunday afternoon. Many inches of rain in between. More rain coming tonight.
But we have managed some walks in the countryside between the rain drops, and it has been heaven to let Maggie off leash. And the fall colors are just beginning. Here’s a bit of muted color on a very soggy and misty day last weekend:
Minnesota Mary says
Interesting question about what brings us joy. I differentiate between pleasure (a dopamine induced state) and happiness/joy (brought on by serotonin). Pleasure is about receiving and joy more about giving. A mouthful of sugar-laden treats, the buzz of an adult beverage, etc. would be an example of dopamine-induced pleasure. For me, joy (the better of the two, in my opinion) has been brought on mostly by the hospice volunteering I’ve been doing with my elder (almost 14 year old) husky. We’ve been giving hospice patients the gift of his twinkle, his comfort and his silly antics for seven years. Last month, due to his pain levels, I made the decision to discontinue that effort for the safety of those to whom we minister. I didn’t want to put him in a position where he could get hurt and have to curtail his reaction. Now that I’m a month out from our last hospice visit, I find myself bereft of joy. I gain some pleasure in doing my job well, in fostering homeless dogs, in interacting with my dogs… But the joy in serving others is definitely something I need in my life to make my heart truly sing. I’m in the process of training my younger husky to pass the therapy dog evaluation and will continue to visit hospice patients with him, but in the meantime, I’m struggling. Feeling a bit off-kilter.
Wanda says
I’m with you on watching dogs play. When Ben (Shih Tsu mix with very short legs) and Quinn (a very long-legged Irish terrier) play “Catch me if you can!” I just laugh out loud. Obviously little Ben cannot out run Quinn, but Ben can corner better. Quinn might start out in the lead, but pretty soon Ben’s ahead because he cut in front! A neighbor visited with her mix last week and Quinn was so happy to have a new playmate he jumped 360 degrees again and again. Hatter (neighbor’s dog) stood there at first looking a little confused but soon decided this was how Quinn was inviting him to take off and run like there was a fire truck to chase. Ben stayed behind and managed to get the neighbor to pet him and then pet him some more. Three very happy dogs that evening. Two smiling owners.
Diane says
What beautiful pictures! (The Tootsie one is adorable!) Go Maggie – I am very happy to hear she’s back in the saddle again.
I agree that watching dogs play is wonderful. My dogs is 3, and 82 lbs of energy. We’ve only had him 6 months. I feel bad because I don’t trust him off leash yet…we don’t have a safe place around us….and I don’t see dog friends his size. It’s possible that I don’t trust myself in correctly judging a situation between dogs and how I might intervene if it doesn’t go well (really…it could be me?!) He deserves that freedom and pleasure…and I hope for that joy. That’s my goal for us. And it is fun getting there!
Chris from Boise says
We’ve been watching the storms pass through Wisconsin – wow! Glad you haven’t floated away, still sorry for those damaged by the flooding. And the same to those whose lives have been upended by hurricanes.
We recently had to leave town for a weekend wedding, and thought Obi might prefer a doggie daycare/boarding setup rather than being left home alone (he’d never stayed home without Habi) with neighbor care, so took him in for a structured meet’n’greet. We were able to watch through a one-way window his interactions with a small and fairly well-mannered group of dogs. NO joy – our dog-social boy hated every minute of it. He immediately sat on his stub of a tail and lifted his lip in a silent snarl every time another dog came to check him out. We realized that he loves one-on-one play, but was totally overwhelmed by the group. So…we took him (with permission from the bride and groom) to the wedding and he charmed everyone, as he always does.
Three days after we returned, in-laws from New Mexico brought their six year old female golden retriever. We wondered, after his doggie daycare fail, how Obi would react to having another dog in his house and yard. He was besotted. Joy in action! Three days of almost non-stop wrestling and chases! I took some videos of great, appropriate play behavior. He slept almost the whole day after they left.
Along the lines of joyful architecture: a friend just visited Prague, and described the Dancing Hotel: https://www.dancinghousehotel.com/en/ Looking forward to reading Joyful – we always check out your recommendations. Here’s another fascinating one for you: “The Secret Life of Cows”, by Rosamund Young – a wise observer of animal behavior.
Cheryl says
I needed this. And I’m going to purchase the book. All your book reviews have been spot on for me. Thank you!
Pat says
What great pictures and such a positive post!
There is a place near where I live in Canberra that all the local dogs are let off lead to play. They love to run together, hide in the bushes and sniff the trees and strangers walking past can’t help but stop, watch and smile at their antics and at the sheer unbridled joy they are witnessing.
I am sorry for your flooding and the damage it causes; however, I can’t help but be a little jealous – we are in the midst of such a terrible drought that any rain would be a blessing.
Best wishes to the doggos and wishing Maggie a speedy recovery.
Trisha says
Ah, thanks so much for the book recommendation. I’d heard of it but forgot about it, so glad to be reminded! And your story about group versus one-on-one interaction is so important. It’s another example of how we humans are often not anthropomorphic when it would serve our dogs. Imagine expecting a young child to be swamped at the doorway by twenty unfamiliar kids, versus meeting one other person their own age. The research on dog play suggests it is almost always between two dogs. If there’s a third, he or she is basically the ‘odd dog out’ who tries to get into the action but rarely successfully. Thanks for the reminder.
Trisha says
Safety is job one for sure, I hope you can find a safe place to let your guy off leash soon. But don’t worry about size related to play. If he has social skills he’ll ‘self handicap’. Best way to find out is to introduce him to a dog that you know has great social skills in a safe, fenced area (tennis court?). And is there a dog trainer you could hire to help you sort out signals between the dogs? Good luck!
Trisha says
Love this description! Willie and Maggie are the same–Willie can outrun her on the straight, but she corners faster. It didn’t take her long to start running in zig zags or circles, and it is a hoot to watch, isn’t it?
Trisha says
Here’s hoping you can get back to your good work soon!
Tricia says
You can still run like that. In my 60’s and my runs and swims keep me smiling as seratonin is produced. My days are then full of appreciation. Help from a physical therapist will help if you have issues that are a hurdle. Amputees figure out how to run. We can all do it.
Lisa Huber says
My older BC (almost 12) has had health issues (lymphoma now CKD) the past 18 months so he was running, then walking, less and less. But now, he has been feeling so much better and is back to pure, full out running across the fields! Like a child, he loves for me to watch him, so he’ll take off in the opposite direction on our trails, then when I turn back to find him, he is across the field, standing still – tail up, ears up, full of p & v, waiting for me to cheer, clap, hoot & holler, and he takes off like a shot again. I believe his motto is “Why walk if you can RUN!” Pure joy for sure.
In Wisconsin as well … watching more rain come down as I type.
Honey Loring says
Watching dogs run free and playing with each other.
Playing the ukulele.
Trisha says
Ah thanks Tricia! I’m sure I could run, but honestly, I truly hate running. What I love is hiking. I seem to be built like a cartoon of a Scottish highlander, with short, stocky arms and legs. When I start to run my body says WHAT THE H— ARE YOU DOING? When I walk, hike, stride, my body loves it. So thanks for the encouragement, but my physical joy is from dancing, which I’ll do til I can’t move anymore!
Kristin Watson says
Hi🙋I was watching my 11 month old Deaf and vision impaired Great Dane play with my other 3 dogs in our puddles on my 2 Acres. I videotaped it and was laughing. We live in Northeast Texas and received heavy rainfall. My Dogs bring me so much joy out in our country homestead🐾
Linda Lipinski says
Thanks for the book recommendation. I, too, find much joy in watching Jax play with other dogs & even when he makes up his own games to play by himself! Good to know someone else designates mornings for non-fiction & evenings for fiction reading!!
sara jean gray says
Sara says: We are in our upper eighties and nineties so we don’t hike miles and miles any more. We just find a safe place where the dogs can run and play, go up hills and down hills, disappear for a while and then come running back, never forgetting to leap over the sage brush. So, if we do a mile, they do at least three. And we all go home happy and exercised to the limits of our abilities.
Jann Becker says
So many “joyful dog” photos show them airborne! Our little 2-year-old flies off the couch, caroms off the chair across the room and dashes back to the couch…several times in a row. Cracks us up laughing every time!
Anton says
Watching my dogs run with total abandon brings me such an overwhelming sense of joy and I share your depression when one is injured and can’t enjoy this glorious freedom. Every morning I run my Great Pyrenees and 3 Kangal dogs around our property, Or should I say they run and I drive the golf cart in order to keep pace with them?! One portion of our property has a hill, from the top of which you can see a huge expanse of the property. As we approach this hill, I call everyone to a stop and then give a release phrase, “go get ’em’! They are obviously not hunting dogs but I do find the phrase rather funny in this context. The command sends them racing up this hill, dodging some bushes, sailing over others in a wild race of pure joy. It is truly the highlight of our mornings and one of the things I find the greatest joy in watching. Freedom. Joy. Ecstasy. All purchased with so little…
soyoung kim says
i am with you on this–my greatest joy is watching my dog hike and run and play…it’s what brings me the most happiness. the best is when he gets into “pacnado” mode—his name is paco and he becomes a paco-tornado—spinning and whirling around his buddies, who are all stunned and confused by his exciting “moves.” i have even found the perfect song to use as a soundtrack to this force of nature that is a pacnado: beck’s “black tambourine” remixed by south rakkas crew! :o)
Regina R Allen DVM says
Right now, it’s watching my 4 week-old puppy (singleton litter) learn how to play and discover actual food. He’s as cute as can be, still a bit wobbly on his feet, and is so much fun to interact with. Wild play one second, falling over the next, and then crashing into a deep sleep a moment later. Precious.
Frances says
Yesterday Sophy ran zoomies – flat out, ears flying, huge circles then back to me to catch her breath and laugh with me before racing off again. She suffers from bouts of back pain and sciatica after slipping a disk years ago – those who have nursed a dog through crate rest, weeks of physio, months of anxiously preventing jumping and watching for the return of symptoms, will understand the heart singing joy those zoomies bring me!
Christine says
What joy I felt when I lately visited a friend who stays in an elderly‘s home! I and my Juralaufhund Tabasgo had to pass a circle of alzheimer‘s patients to get to her room. You should have seen how their eyes began to sparkle and almost everyone wanted to cuddle him!
JMM says
My 12 year old greyhound still finds her greatest joy in running. I worry about those long legs that are now a bit wobbly and yell at her to be careful. She just laughs at me as she zooms past.
Helen says
Yep, joy = dogs. Watching, training and playing with them. Also am inspired by Christine and Minnesota Mary to investigate taking my mini poodle into nursing homes. I know there’s a program here in Australia that I can do, I will tuck that into my memory to pursue later.