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Every morning is the start of the best day of Max’s life. When the curtains are drawn and light streams into the room, so begins a brand new day of doing all the things he loves, and most importantly, with the people who are his best buddies. By the end of his day, Max has had such a great time, snuggling up to sleep in a warm bed is just the icing on his cake. And the best bit is, tomorrow he gets to do it all again. Max loves his awesome life. He wouldn’t change it for the world. Max is a dog...

Why is it so easy to make dogs happy? Do you think it is at all possible for us to make other humans happy by just breathing? Would they think you are the best, most awesome creature on this planet? Would they realise it even if you did. Wouldn’t life be better if we were…well…Max?

The argument for the happiness of dogs centres on the belief their needs are simple. They don’t pay bills or commute, receive office emails at 9pm or work shifts, nor do they care that the washing machine is broken, the internet is down and no one paid the electricity company. They don’t give two hoots what anyone is wearing, earning or buying (unless it’s dog treats). As humans, we think a lot, worry a lot, and the amount of pressure we put on ourselves borders on the ludicrous. It affects our health. A lot. Studies have led health officials to believe that depression is the second leading cause of disability, globally*. Meanwhile Max is super excited he’s going outside to chase butterflies.

The paradox in this is that Max’s needs are not simple, basic yes, but not simple, because Max needs the one thing we do not have - the one thing we cannot simply giveaway. Max needs the most expensive commodity that exists. Max needs our time.

Giving this commodity away makes us the best, most awesome creatures on the planet, because it’s the greatest act of Human Be-ing. For the moment we stop being hectic Human Do-ings, and instead concentrate on another’s happiness, however fleeting, we commit unconditional love. There is nothing for us to gain in return, except for the feeling of joy in making someone happy. Here's the slight snag in all this; making others happy, makes us happy. And by default we feel like the best, most awesome creatures on the planet.

So send that short text to a friend saying ‘thinking of you’, ‘I believe in you’, ‘I love you’. Make that one-minute ’Hi’ phone call. Commit small random acts that encourage, nurture and love your close ones. And life will seem a lot more 'Max'. You may even begin chasing butterflies.

#MakeSomeoneHappy

Claire Reardon from Quite Simply Claire

One mum. Following one boy and two ridgebacks. Till the end of time (and beyond) @clreardon

* Whiteford, H. A. et al. (2013) Global burden of disease attributable to mental and substance use disorders: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. The Lancet. 382 (9904). pp. 1575-1586.