Laughing Medicine
Every day, Chance takes me for a walk. Technically, I am the one holding the leash, but he is the one leading me down the road. Chance is our Frenchie Pug who came to us as a pup one week before the covid lockdown. He soothed our weary and frayed emotions while peeing on everything we owned. He’s wrecked us, and our belongings, yet we still keep coming back to him for more.
I try to get us out on a trail where both of us can be leash-free, while not being pesterly to trail runners. Usually, this means heading out to the trail in the mid-morning during the summer or mid-afternoon during the colder months. One of the trails we walk has two tight switchbacks requiring extra effort for my two feet not to go sliding down the hill. Every time we hit this spot, Chance stops, looks at me, and waits for me to say, “Go!” He proceeds to barrel down the trail at top speed, tunneling through dirt and leaves. His back paws race so fast that it seems he’s about to flip himself, and that’s when I laugh.
I laugh every time I see those paws flying. I laugh at his awkwardness. I laugh with his joy. I laugh with pure pleasure at the silliness. I laugh without thinking about why I’m laughing. It gets me every time.
Laughter is sweet medicine.
I agree with Sarah, a bible character in Genesis who said, “God has made laughter for me and everyone who hears will laugh over me.”
We don’t usually make plans for laughter, but I am encouraging you this weekend to make space to laugh. Laughter lightens our weariness. It spreads joy and lightheartedness. It makes us smile and be at ease.
May you find lighthearted joy in the things around you. May you be at ease with yourself, and the natural world enough to giggle, smile, and relax. May you share your stories of laughter in the hopes that it spreads joy around you.
As I laugh about my dog and my own goofiness, I pray that you find yourselves laughing too.
With Laughter,
Nikki