Joie de vivre!

“Joie de vivre” – literally the “joy of life”.

A “joie de vivre” is sometimes noticed in people but, all too often, they are so caught up in their personal challenges that “joie de vivre” would be extremely inaccurate. How many people do you expect to meet (or did you meet) today who are just overflowing with life? Perhaps one? Maybe none!

Dogs are so different. They are generally just so happy with the basics of life.

I came up the stairs from the basement this morning at around 7:15am and, as expected, Ray was waiting for me behind the gate at the top. I am sure that he was pleased to see me but, of course, one needs to keep that in perspective because I am also his “ticket” for breakfast!

We had our usual greeting which consists of him butting me with his nose, and I then give him a few seconds of vigorous petting. After that, I opened the back door for him to go outside and pee.

I watched him from our back window and saw a classic display of “joie de vivre”! He was obviously looking for an attractive place to pee but, while he was looking, he was leaping around like a spring lamb! He found his spot and peed, and then  bounded back to the pathway and up the steps where I had the door already open for him.

For anybody used to a large dog, what I saw was probably an every day occurrence but, to me, it was really fascinating to watch so much physical enthusiasm and energy from a dog weighing close to 80 lbs!

He bounded into the kitchen and paced around a little while I prepared his breakfast and, as soon as he saw me heading over to his mat (where his bowl goes), he started leaping around again!

While he was emptying his bowl, I was peeling the skin off a piece of rutabaga. I was about half way through peeling when Ray arrived at my side and the excitement in his face was obvious! Needless to say, he bounced along beside me as I went over to his (now empty) bowl and dropped the pieces in!

Now is the time when I think about by second cup of coffee and perhaps some toast but, within a few moments, Ray was again at my side with a very excited look. “What do you want buddy?” ( a redundant question really!), made him leap through a 180 degree turn and run into his den where he promptly lay down with front paws crossed.

He knew, just as well as I knew, that his final breakfast course (a tartar control biscuit) was always served in his den! He then left me alone to take care of my coffee and toast, at least until I started eating the toast. Then he casually walked over and sat right in front of me; held amazing eye contact. and placed one paw on my leg.

“Joie de vivre”? Ray certainly has it, and I feel so guilty at times that I see it everyday while others are only seeing the unpleasant aspects of their world.

So what does it take to display a “joie de vivre”? All Ray appears to need is the freedom to be himself; to be able to do his job (protecting us!); to be accepted and loved as part of the family; to have a secure and warm shelter, and regular food and water.

Sounds like Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs to me! I wonder how it is that canines can grasp the concept that happiness is basic needs being filled, but so many humans cannot?

 

35 thoughts on “Joie de vivre!”

  4. Mom and I know SO many people who don’t choose to see anything joyful in their lives. And yes it IS a choice. We added some joyless friends into our morning prayers, so when our prayers are answered those friends will feel the joy around them and be grateful for it. ….like we are.

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Cupcake – I know what you mean. My Dad says that people will so often moan and complain about what they don’t have, when they should be happy and grateful for what they do have. He quotes things like “I cried because I had no shoes, but then I met a man who had no feet.” Woof! Ray.

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  5. If I go around with a merry tune on my lips and a skip in my steps to match the beat, the next human crossing me would throw such a look, enough to take away the merry, cause, the societal upbringing tells me to tone down and walk like a grown up!

    So there goes away my joy.. And worse it gets replaced with few unnecessary worries..

    Hence, I think the need of approval even from the stranger-passerby is the culprit of killing the expression of joy of humans..

    Anyway, leaving out all those serious thinking aside, it’s fun just to read about Ray.. Thanks for letting me have a big grin with that post.. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Ah yes…. we are supposed to emulate those serious grown ups all around us but yet, they are the ones who are buried so deep in societal expectations that many of them don’t know who they are any more. Feel free to be yourself Aadhira. Let the world see who the real Aadhira is and, for those who do not understand, it is up to them to accept each of us as unique human beings. It is not up to us to adapt to their expectations. Smile at everybody and leave them wondering what on earth you’re so happy about but, if questioned, tell them you just read a post about a very smart dog! 🙂

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  6. I love the enthusiasm dogs show us. We have a visitor to the marina we’ve nicknamed Thug because we can’t walk by their boat without being trashed. He is the most people oriented animal I have ever come across, totally loveable and enjoys any fuss coming in his direction. He is a little black and white papillon standing not much bigger than Maggie’s head!

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  8. He reminds me of my cat when she danced on the grass underneath our balcony. So full of life and energy. Sadly, she was hit by a car and killed a couple of weeks ago but she has left us with a feeling of love and energy.

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  10. Yes,we can learn so much from dogs! I remember our shih-tzu would love to run full speed across our yard. With the way she would look you could almost believe that she was going to lift off the ground and fly! 🙂 She was definitely one of our most carefree dogs!

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  11. Funny, because I read your first paragraph, and thought, the only “people” I know with joie de vivre these days are – dogs! And then I read the rest of your post. 🙂
    I love how dogs live in the now and just don’t dwell on stuff. Ray epitomises this well, for all his size! 🙂

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