Happy, Happy, Happy

Trigger has the most positive outlook on life of anyone (dog) I know.  He gets excited about going out for walk.  His idea of happiness is chasing a cat, (even if I am tagging along at the end of the leash).  His antics on any given day can bring a smile to my face.  When he flops down on the bottom corner of my bed at night and lets out a sigh, I know its been a good day.  It reminds me that I need to keep a positive outlook on my life and even if I have to search, look for the good things that happen daily that make me happy. 

I am often reminded of the poem by Robert Frost, Happiness Makes Up in Height for What It Lacks in Length.  Happiness often comes in small spurts that bubble to the surface when least expected. Too often I see people going through their day with a frown on their face and negativity in their words and actions.  I think negativity becomes a habit for many people.  It is often much easier to focus on what we don’t have instead of what we do have.  It’s not about being happy 24/7, but rather being happy in the moment.  Finding something to smile about.  Making a positive comment, complimenting a co-worker or friend.  Happiness has a mirroring effect.  By doing something to make someone else happy you often feel happier yourself.   Pay it forward each day.  Make happiness a habit and way of life.  Be positive.  Like Trigger, bask in the sunshine of a good day well lived and look forward to tomorrow.

Not all Kibble is created equal.

Trigger thinks he is a person.  He will eat about anything and in large quantities, preferably people food.  (He is 50 pounds.)  Broccoli and peppers do get sorted out and left in the dish.  Other than that it is licked clean.  Dog food is a last resort when hungry and I won’t give him people food.  He has this idea that anything I eat, I should share with him.  He will sit next to me when I am eating and give me this soulful look and softly whine until I share.   Junk food or healthy food its all the same to him. 

Eat to live or live to eat.  Eating healthy goes a long ways towards establishing a positive attitude about life.  It makes you feel better and look better.   Eating and food can easily become and emotional substitute and outlet if you allow it.  Think before you eat.   While so much of life can and does revolve around food intake it does not have to be binge eating or all junk food.  Extra pounds of body weight can drain the energy right out of you. (I ought to know, I am overweight.).  So many times our social endeavors are based around food consumption.  It is hard not to get caught up in the holidays, parties or social gatherings that are centered to a great extent around food.  I like food.  I like to cook and I like to eat.  Chocolate and ice cream should be major food groups to my way of thinking and if its chocolate ice cream I have just hit the jackpot. 

Portion control is often the culprit behind overeating.  It’s hard to hard to quit after one serving of spaghetti (1 cup) or a 2 inch square brownie.  The more you eat the more you want to eat.  There is a legitimate reason they call it “pigging out”.  Eat in moderation.  My own body is testament to this as my body has been “super-sized “ a few too many times at the drive thru window.

Speed eating has become a way of life for many of us.  In our fast paced world there is often only a few minutes to spare for a meal.  Lunch is often grabbed on the go and eaten as you go from one place to another.   I have often accused my children of inhaling their food it goes so fast.  Slow down and savor the taste.  It will help the waistline and the digestive tract.

Trigger's unique perspective on life.

Trigger is a husky mixed breed, in other words, a mutt, but a very lovable mutt.  You might say I inherited him.  My daughter brought him home as a puppy because she felt sorry for him.  As time passed somehow I got stuck taking care of him.  When she left home, I got to keep the dog.  So now Trigger is mine, I own him or maybe it is the other way around.  Anyway he is my confidant when I need to talk, vent or just plain cry.  He really has a way of putting a unique perspective on my life without using words.  Trigger has taught me some valuable life lessons and has been there to pick me up and provide encouragement when I needed it.    I decided to pass on some of what I have learned. 

“Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff”

Trigger is the ultimate in taking it easy.  Give him a soft place to lie and something to chew on he is happy.  He lives in the moment.  No worries, no stress.

Dr. Richard Carlson wrote the self-help book, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.  Read it, it makes sense.  Stress can kill you.  Learn how to manage it.  Relax.   Too many of us spend way too much time worrying about things that we have absolutely no control over and stressing over things that we do have control of.  So, take control. 

Find balance in your life.   Life is not all about work, but neither is it all about play.  You have to find the balance between the two.  For many people in today’s workforce it is do more with less, work longer hours for the same or less pay.  Granted that may be what it takes to get ahead in life but don’t forget to take time for yourself.  Don’t be afraid to take time for yourself, you are worth it.  Find what makes you happy and do it.  For me that involves reading.  Almost every night I read before I go to sleep.  I read nothing of socially redeeming value, I read for pure enjoyment.  It may be different genres or whatever hits my mood at the time.  Take at least 20 minutes daily just for yourself. Do whatever brings you joy.