Great piece! I have noticed that whenever I make the conscious decision to be happy, I end up feeling great and stay in a good mood throughout the day. I’ve been trying to convince people to do the same... which has proved challenging. I might need to use this post to back me up next time I try to have a discussion about it. Oh, and regarding animal personalities, couldn’t be more true. Our corgi is all over the place and doesn’t hold back in voicing his opinion on anything and everything (especially when he disagrees with something).
"Oh, and regarding animal personalities, couldn’t be more true. Our corgi is all over the place and doesn’t hold back in voicing his opinion on anything and everything (especially when he disagrees with something)."
—I am so glad I know this now. My world is brighter for knowing the truth about animals.
"Great piece! I have noticed that whenever I make the conscious decision to be happy, I end up feeling great and stay in a good mood throughout the day. I’ve been trying to convince people to do the same... which has proved challenging. I might need to use this post to back me up next time I try to have a discussion about it."
—Thanks. Please let me know if you need any help on this front. I run into the same thing—perhaps we can help each other 🤣
If that video doesn't make you smile... I guess you're just hopeless.
I don't have a video, but I have a chicken story that will certainly make you think.
Three years ago we bought five chicks, named and raised them. Maggie was the first one that escaped the brooder, and that was the pattern for her short life. Perhaps Maggie thought she was a crow (she certainly loved to fly) and our six foot privacy fence could not fence her in. Even though the safe back yard fulfilled her basic needs, it was just too small for Maggie. My back and side neighbors all knew Maggie, and the rest of the neighborhood saw her in the front yard. While the rest of the flock dutifully went into the safe coop all summer, Maggie preferred the Japanese maple. (In winter when the tree was bare, she slept in the coop on the highest perch, of course.)
If we didn't see Maggie, all we had to do was call her name and she would appear on top of the fence and crow as if to say " here I am". If we saw her in the front yard, she would hang her head and go to the gate, wait for us to open it, and go to jail, often back in the front within 10 minutes. She knew she was breaking the rules as she was often chastised for her wandering ways, but she was a rebel. Friends told us to clip her wings, but we didn't have the heart. One summer night, we forced her into the coop and she went beserk, throwing herself against the coop door. We let her out to go to her tree.
Early this year we got new neighbors with dogs. The previous owners had dogs too, but Maggie knew their routine. Needless to say our concerns were valid because on April 6 Maggie was killed. The neighborhood (and especially my husband and me) went into mourning for Maggie, the chicken who wanted to be free.
It makes me think that most people choose security over freedom. I think chickens have an innate ability to be aware of danger. They go inside the coop before dark, and anything out of the ordinary sends them scurrying to safety. But Maggie was a risk taker and chose freedom. I could probably have 100 chickens and never have another with her sort of personality. I have no regrets.
Our neighbors' chickens seem very adventurous…but within tight parameters. They never go much further than our yard. They go a few feet into the woods. (they seem to like to talk with the whitetail deer). They will go up to the street, but they won't cross it. And then they go back to the coop at night. Chickens seem happier and healthy when they have some pasture, but they still do need to be chickens, and that means being safe.
My grand-dog Reign is just like this with her squeaky toy. She loves rolling it into pool but 2 chicken 2 go in .. so I have 2 constantly retrieve the ball. But she’s just soooo happy 😃 I must play along
Oh yes! I am so immensely grateful I have been able to run away to Buenos Aires to learn the tango. I spend my time learning (both dance and the language, from scratch); I don't have time to fret about the state of the world. As it happens, I had a particularly good day; probably the thought of that donkey's joy lit me up from inside, and others could feel the positive energy flowing through them from me.
Wow!!! You could tell that donkey was genuinely excited and extraordinarily happy about getting that rubber chicken!!! Made my day for sure!!! Thanks for this wonderful post!!!
Lovely article about happiness, Christopher, and fun donkey video - my lingering sad thought is the donkey really needs another donkey friend if a toy that sounds like a donkey is making such a huge hit.
"Lovely article about happiness, Christopher, and fun donkey video - my lingering sad thought is the donkey really needs another donkey friend if a toy that sounds like a donkey is making such a huge hit."
Thanks :-)
Maybe there is another donkey, but that other donkey is a jerk, and this donkey feels more comfortable in the company of his toy chicken.
Great piece! I have noticed that whenever I make the conscious decision to be happy, I end up feeling great and stay in a good mood throughout the day. I’ve been trying to convince people to do the same... which has proved challenging. I might need to use this post to back me up next time I try to have a discussion about it. Oh, and regarding animal personalities, couldn’t be more true. Our corgi is all over the place and doesn’t hold back in voicing his opinion on anything and everything (especially when he disagrees with something).
"Oh, and regarding animal personalities, couldn’t be more true. Our corgi is all over the place and doesn’t hold back in voicing his opinion on anything and everything (especially when he disagrees with something)."
—I am so glad I know this now. My world is brighter for knowing the truth about animals.
"Great piece! I have noticed that whenever I make the conscious decision to be happy, I end up feeling great and stay in a good mood throughout the day. I’ve been trying to convince people to do the same... which has proved challenging. I might need to use this post to back me up next time I try to have a discussion about it."
—Thanks. Please let me know if you need any help on this front. I run into the same thing—perhaps we can help each other 🤣
If that video doesn't make you smile... I guess you're just hopeless.
I don't have a video, but I have a chicken story that will certainly make you think.
Three years ago we bought five chicks, named and raised them. Maggie was the first one that escaped the brooder, and that was the pattern for her short life. Perhaps Maggie thought she was a crow (she certainly loved to fly) and our six foot privacy fence could not fence her in. Even though the safe back yard fulfilled her basic needs, it was just too small for Maggie. My back and side neighbors all knew Maggie, and the rest of the neighborhood saw her in the front yard. While the rest of the flock dutifully went into the safe coop all summer, Maggie preferred the Japanese maple. (In winter when the tree was bare, she slept in the coop on the highest perch, of course.)
If we didn't see Maggie, all we had to do was call her name and she would appear on top of the fence and crow as if to say " here I am". If we saw her in the front yard, she would hang her head and go to the gate, wait for us to open it, and go to jail, often back in the front within 10 minutes. She knew she was breaking the rules as she was often chastised for her wandering ways, but she was a rebel. Friends told us to clip her wings, but we didn't have the heart. One summer night, we forced her into the coop and she went beserk, throwing herself against the coop door. We let her out to go to her tree.
Early this year we got new neighbors with dogs. The previous owners had dogs too, but Maggie knew their routine. Needless to say our concerns were valid because on April 6 Maggie was killed. The neighborhood (and especially my husband and me) went into mourning for Maggie, the chicken who wanted to be free.
That is a sad story, though instructive in many ways.
Is the moral of the story perhaps that freedom is highly desirable, but it carries with it many responsibilities?
Our neighbors have chickens and we live right up against woods, with foxes and red-tailed hawks and coyotes. They started with 12; now they have six.
It makes me think that most people choose security over freedom. I think chickens have an innate ability to be aware of danger. They go inside the coop before dark, and anything out of the ordinary sends them scurrying to safety. But Maggie was a risk taker and chose freedom. I could probably have 100 chickens and never have another with her sort of personality. I have no regrets.
Our neighbors' chickens seem very adventurous…but within tight parameters. They never go much further than our yard. They go a few feet into the woods. (they seem to like to talk with the whitetail deer). They will go up to the street, but they won't cross it. And then they go back to the coop at night. Chickens seem happier and healthy when they have some pasture, but they still do need to be chickens, and that means being safe.
My grand-dog Reign is just like this with her squeaky toy. She loves rolling it into pool but 2 chicken 2 go in .. so I have 2 constantly retrieve the ball. But she’s just soooo happy 😃 I must play along
Dogs are among the happiest creatures on Earth, it seems.
Someone must be chopping onions...my vision is suddenly blurry...
Awwww…
Wonderful piece! That donkey has made my day. 😎 Thank you!
Do you have special plans for being happy today?
Oh yes! I am so immensely grateful I have been able to run away to Buenos Aires to learn the tango. I spend my time learning (both dance and the language, from scratch); I don't have time to fret about the state of the world. As it happens, I had a particularly good day; probably the thought of that donkey's joy lit me up from inside, and others could feel the positive energy flowing through them from me.
Wow—a good day in a great place doing a fun thing. Wonderful!
Wow!!! You could tell that donkey was genuinely excited and extraordinarily happy about getting that rubber chicken!!! Made my day for sure!!! Thanks for this wonderful post!!!
I am pleased that it made you happy!
Lovely article about happiness, Christopher, and fun donkey video - my lingering sad thought is the donkey really needs another donkey friend if a toy that sounds like a donkey is making such a huge hit.
I was looking at the relation between 'happiness' and peace recently as I have a website called peace-is-happy.org. I liked the quotes and definitions in this short article on a meditation focused site: https://synergyholistichealth.com/the-difference-between-peace-and-happiness-in-your-life/
peace-is-happy.org.
—I like the Viktor Frankl references
https://synergyholistichealth.com/the-difference-between-peace-and-happiness-in-your-life/
—Another dichotomy is happiness vs. fun. Some things that make you happy (like the results of hard work) aren't aways that much fun.
"Lovely article about happiness, Christopher, and fun donkey video - my lingering sad thought is the donkey really needs another donkey friend if a toy that sounds like a donkey is making such a huge hit."
Thanks :-)
Maybe there is another donkey, but that other donkey is a jerk, and this donkey feels more comfortable in the company of his toy chicken.
Maybe you're right - that took me a second to visualize. Now I'm laughing
😁
Always!
I am sorry—I am not quite following this and your other two comments below…
😯🤣