"Do you know your dog is smiling?"

I want to live joyfully and yet, I keep thinking about topics that make me angry and upset while our sweet puppy, Obi, nudges me, asking for a walk. 

Eventually, I listen and we head out the door.

A neighbor asks, “Do you know your dog is smiling?”

Here’s the catch. A dog-catcher kind of catch, except I’m the one who ends up in the pound. My anger locks me away.

Someone asks, “Do you know your dog is smiling?” 

Statistically speaking, Obi smiles often. “Yes,” is a good bet.

However, present moment verification could prove otherwise, which means I don’t know.

I get distracted from the good things all around me by flames burning in my thoughts. I can get a whole fire going while rinsing dishes at the kitchen sink. I’ve even caught myself using a wooden spoon to make my point to an imaginary audience. 

And there beside me, my audience of one, is Obi, smiling, asking to go for a walk. 

Dan, my husband, and I go in phases of laughing and not laughing as often. We need reminding. 

“Let’s focus on laughing more,” we say.

It’s lovely to laugh. I smile. I breathe and I love his smile. 

I used to be a humor columnist. I’d sit by myself in my office, type and laugh. 

Sometimes events weren’t funny when they were happening and thankfully, I was able to find humor in them later. It’s all in how we retell a story. 

I tip towards seriousness these days. Do I think being angry is helpful?

The wisest, kindest people, whom I admire deeply, age with smile wrinkles and warm heartedness. They radiate joy and peace.

I’m left asking, “What happened to my sense of humor?” I wonder if Obi is asking this question too.

Thankfully, something usually gets me to laugh. This morning I was looking at photographs of little ones in Halloween costumes and I smiled.

And then suddenly, I saw the costume I’ve been wearing… brow furrowed, a frown, taking life way too seriously and I laughed.

Thank God I did. 

When I laughed, I was free.

Free to imagine putting on a pink flower gown, a zinnia crown and dancing with friends in the garden.

And free enough to hear the puppy at my office door asking to go for a walk. 

I opened the door to head outside, looked down at my puppy beside me and I could see Obi smiling. 

And thankfully, so was I.

Wishing you joy and laughter, 

Kathleen