One of the best ways to live a good life is to laugh. This trick will help every day | Opinion

It’s been a while since I wrote the column about our dog, Sadie, and our fond memories of her as such an integral part of our lives. After her passing, the months turned into a couple of years, and we still returned home expecting to greet a 16-year-old without much time left but wagging her tail as though we had left her for good.

The time thing is what gets dog lovers the most. Why such a short lifespan? I’m sure there are dog lovers who have found a way to rationalize the short life span, but I’m not one of them. Calling in the vet to end Sadie’s misery was one of our toughest assignments as it is for anyone who has cherished the loyalty and love of a pet.

I kept up those long walks after Sadie, but it was never the same. Without her at my side, I was left with memories of our daily treks through the neighborhood and Hull’s Gulch. It was a walk of memories at every turn.

“That was where she often stopped to pick up the scent of some creature who traveled the same path”.

“Oh, that’s the street she turned away from for some unknown reason.”

“Here’s where she greeted shoppers at the co-op as she waited patiently for my return from the store.”

“There’s that path off the Greenbelt where she pulled the leash toward the Boise River, ever so careful as to only get her legs wet and never dare to swim.”

The trip through downtown on Sunday mornings was the toughest memory. She loved scavenging for small pizza pieces dropped from Saturday night’s diners — her only experience with people food.

Like many dog owners who lost their best friend, the day finally arrived when we considered bringing another doggie into our home, a pal who could join me on those long walks and offer canine friendship at home. I can think of so many reasons why a dog makes sense, but one stuck with me after I read it years ago.

Our canine friends and their often-comical ways make us laugh, and laughing is an essential ingredient for a good life. And let’s not leave our feline friends out of this analysis. They too make us laugh.

Is there ever a better time to take life a bit less seriously and bring more laughter and joy into our lives? Might laughing at a dog or cat’s antics reduce stress, lower blood pressure and boost our immune system? I’m not making this up. The Mayo Clinic and other researchers like those at Case Western Reserve University say just that. According to the research, those dogs and cats and their wacky antics increase our level of endorphins which make us feel better and happier.

And feeling better is just what the doctor ordered these days. That occurred to me the other day as I watched the evening news and wondered what global calamity would hit our shores next.

Another COVID to fret about? Can the news get any worse in Gaza? Will Iran or North Korea finally enrich enough uranium to produce and use a nuke on their neighbors like Israel or South Korea? And how long does it take before nuclear war spreads beyond small countries?

Or do we worry about something closer to home like the killing fields of our highways and streets where 99 Americans die daily and over 7,500 are injured from car accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That’s a statistic much higher than any other first-world country, due in part to the new behemoth trucks coming out of Detroit. Those in passenger cars don’t stand a chance.

The list goes on, but you get the drift. Watching the evening news these days is tantamount to walking over hot coals. But life does go on and finding a way to focus on the positive is a prerequisite for the good life. Our pets, whether they be dogs, cats or other animal friends remind us of the simplicity and innocence of life before it is distracted by the dreadful news of the day.

For those of us who do not have kids in the house, they keep us focused on obligation, on the importance of watching out and taking care of those who cannot care for themselves. Most of us have had the experience of caring for others, whether it’s our kids or pets we’ve had over the years. We learned the importance of looking out for others and giving to others not blessed with the basics of the good life that we often take for granted. Why stop now that the kids are gone, especially when we sometimes need a reason to keep moving and remain active?

Then there’s the loyalty factor. Our canine buddies have earned the aphorism “a dog is a man’s best friend.” They are devoted to their owners like no other member of the animal kingdom. To our dog, we can do no wrong. Those canine eyes look up at her owner as though she is the only person in the world.

I have just learned once again what it feels like to be the only person in the world in the eyes of my dog because our Christmas present this year was a new doggie we welcomed into our home. It reminds me of that scene in The Lion King when Rafiki raises up the young Simba for the animals of Pride Rock to witness the “Circle of Life.” Just as we rescued Sadie from the streets, lost and in search of a home, now we welcome and celebrate Lexi coming into our “Circle of Life,” and once again, we wonder who rescues whom.

Lexi follows me everywhere and when she is not following me, then she is following Kathy. A lap dog who would rather not take no for an answer, she sometimes winds up on our laps, especially in the evening when we are watching a movie. And the laughs keep on coming every time Lexi passes a full-length mirror or window that sends back her reflection. She lets loose with her funny little growl to warn the doggie in the mirror that she is the boss of this household.

She’s the first dog we’ve had that likes to watch television with us. Those big round eyes are focused on the screen like she is following the plot. Can’t wait to hear her reviews, but in the meantime, our reviews of her are filled with love and laughter.

Bob Kustra served as president of Boise State University from 2003 to 2018. He is the host of Readers Corner on Boise State Public Radio and is a regular columnist for the Idaho Statesman. He served two terms as Illinois lieutenant governor and 10 years as a state legislator.