Be the Labrador
Nonfiction by Lily Gerhard
A wise middle-aged mom somewhere was the first one to mutter the phrase “live, laugh, love” and put it on a bunch of wooden signs at Homegoods. I am no middle-aged mom, but I think there’s something to that idea. In fact, it sounds like a household critter that we all know and love. You see, Labrador retrievers are the queens, kings, and sorcerers of “live laugh love.” All they do is those three things. For many of us who are tragically type A, the philosophical idea behind Labrador-ism (working title) is incredibly useful. Still, why would you want to be a Labrador and not a German shepherd or a corgi?
Well one of the first things you notice about a Labrador is that they treat everyone they meet the same way: with unbashful kindness. It doesn’t matter who you are. You could have an arm growing out of your forehead and not a single Labrador would bat an eye. On the other hand, humans are very judgmental creatures. We act like little cranes, dropping people into boxes. To be honest, that makes me feel pretty crappy. With handy-dandy Labrador-ism, you don’t do that. Everyone gets a hug upon meeting. With Labrador-ism you are just as excited to see one person as the next.
The second thing you may notice about a Labrador is that they are completely carefree. So carefree that sometimes it seems like the beloved Labrador doesn’t have a single thought behind his eyes. Yes, thoughts can be good. Without thoughts nothing would be done. Except sometimes it can be good to not focus on them. Sometimes it’s best to just have fun. It’s freeing to just do whatever you want to without worrying about what other people think. Wear that outfit, ask that boy, girl, or non-binary person out, roll around on the grass. This is why one of the key features of Labrador-ism is YOLO. Do what gives you joy, even if that means your homework might not be a work of masterful science.
There are many other things that we can learn about the Labrador, like how they take lots of naps, which would be good for a country that, on average, chronically does not get enough sleep. Labradors never feel bad for eating too much or giving too many hugs. They protect the ones they love with louder-than-life barks and are never not excited by the little things like a walk around the neighborhood. There is a reason they have been the most popular breed for 28 years straight. Nonetheless, there is a more prominent, personal reason why I follow the philosophy of Labrador-ism.
When I was seven years old, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. My entire life was turned upside down. Everyone started treating me differently, except for my dog Flower. Every day when I got home, she’d be just as excited to see me as before, and she still expected me to play with her. That sort of thing can make life’s challenges so much easier. Being a kid with constant IVs up your arm is stressful. A carefree attitude is vital to survival. Making your own fun out of small moments is vital too. When I had a stroke at nine years old, family friends took care of Flower. She visited me in the hospital. She did not tread lightly on the land of disabled children. She was just happy to be there and see my family and me after a month of separation. No questions, just good old-fashioned love. We can all take something from that.
Now, there may be times where implementing Labrador-ism may be near impossible. There are times where things are so very dark that life doesn’t seem to go on. But when you have a friend that is fighting through those times, don’t stop giving them the same high fives and hugs that you gave them before. It could truly change someone’s outlook on their entire situation. Be the Labrador, be someone’s innocent blissful friendship, and always live laugh love.
Lily Gerhard is a whimsical writer from Southern California. Her passions include, romantic comedies, cryptozoology and niche historical events. If she’s not clack clacking away at her laptop making up make believe stories, you can find her picking out an outfit for the renaissance faire.
