We meet families with young children coming off the beach today.  Mommy, can I pet the dog, the little girl asks?  Sure, she’s friendly, I get used to saying as I stop.  On this particular morning,  the little girl starts with a friendly pet on the head and quickly moves in for a full body hug, grabbing Penelope around the neck,  immersing and wiggling her face in long fur. Oh, gentle, gentle says the mother.  Penelope understands this kind of pure, spontaneous joy and allows the little girl her moment. Mommy snuggles with me like that,  the little girl says. Mommy laughs and says yes, but without quite as much hair.

We don’t get very far before we meet the next family. Is she an Aussie? Yes, I say. May we pet her? Of course, I respond, proud that Penelope is so good at being an ambassador for joy and love. We have a dog at home and miss her, they say.  I understand. Being away from your dog is hard, I say. It’s being away from all that love,  I think to myself. We get this a lot, Sweet P and I. People wanting to pet her because they miss the love and affection from their own dogs.  Penelope effortlessly raises the feel-good vibration of everyone she meets just by being herself. The wag of her tail means her heart is open to give and receive all the goodness out there.

Today is that kind of day. We do not get our usual steps in. I slow down. I get it. We are responding to a higher purpose.  We are spreading love and joy.

How are you spreading joy? Has someone or something brought you joy lately?