I’m sitting in the garden on the most glorious of winter mornings. The sun is warming my face from a clear blue sky. A thick hoarfrost is slowly creeping away from the fence line as the sun’s rays meet the ground. A transpirational mist is ascending across the lawn.

I have the dog at my feet, coffee in hand and bacon s’wich by my side. As I raise my face up to the sun and close my eyes, all is well in my world and I am happy!

The dog then tries to pinch my bacon, the coffee cup’s a gonna and all hell breaks loose; in that fleeting moment my peace is shattered and my acquisition of happiness gone … ! We’d already had words earlier about my need for a little personal space, he is however ever loving and ever faithful but ever PRESENT around my legs and my food!

His happiness comes from sticks, bones, food and being with his humans. I see him most happy when we’ve been separated for more than 30 mins! In my conversation with him earlier I’d explained my need for him to stop following me, go away and perhaps lie down or go outside, his face fell. Those big puppy dog eyes drooped, his tail dropped and head hung low – my guilt gave him a big hug and he was happy again.

Is he a happy dog? Most definitely! Is he happy all the time, certainly not, but he can ping back into happiness at the drop of a hat. He’s a smiler, big time and it’s lovely to see him greeting anyone and everyone with that big toothy grin. Are all dogs like this? No they are not.

So, is happiness nature or nurture and what exactly does ‘HAPPY’ mean anyway??

Seriously I’m asking you … ‘What does happiness mean … to you?’

For some it’s a long term aspiration – ‘I just want to be happy’ an easily achievable goal and not too much to ask yet often quietly elusive. For others their happiness lies in the ‘moment’, that mindful appreciation of a bacon sarnie in the sun WITHOUT a dog by your side!

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