The Positive Dog: A Story About the Power of Positivity

Feed with Laughter

“Now that's a smile!” Bubba cheered as he touched Matt's mouth with his paw. “I knew you had it in you.”

“I haven't smiled in so long I forgot what it feels like,” Matt said.

“And how does it feel?”

“It feels good—really good.”

“Yep,” Bubba said. “A smile is only a laugh away. If you want to smile more, then laugh more. If you want to generate real smiles, then think of things that make you laugh like this here joke: Knock, knock.”

“Who's there?” Matt asked.

“Dog.”

“Dog who?”

“Doggonit, why aren't you answering the door?”

All at once Bubba and Matt burst out with laugher, fell to the grass, and rolled around on their backs as they continued to laugh uncontrollably. They laughed and laughed and laughed and when they stopped laughing Bubba told another joke and they laughed some more.

Eventually they calmed down and got to their feet. Matt said, “Wow, I don't ever remember smiling or feeling like this. I feel like I can fly.”

“Yep, laughter not only makes you smile more, it's also a powerful way to feed the positive dog each day,” Bubba said. “Studies show that laughter improves your mood, reduces stress, boosts your immune system, relaxes your muscles, and adds joy to your life. Laughing is a priceless, free drug you can feed yourself anytime you want to feel positive. Best of all, you don't have to wait for something to make you laugh, you can think of funny experiences ...