Day 11: May 17, 2012 ~ Laughter

Day 11: May 17, 2012 ~ Laughter

"At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities."

~Jean Houston

Now this is one of our greatest gifts...the ability to feel lightheartedness and express it in the joyful release of laughter. Sometimes it's spontaneous irrepressible laughter in response to something very funny—like laughing out loud while you're driving in your car listening to "Car Talk" on NPR :-) ...and sometimes it's a gentle smile as we hold a precious memory in our hearts...and sometimes it's a healing connection in sharing a funny story about a loved one in the midst of grief, where we connect in our deepest humanity. Laughter is one of those cracks where the light gets in. 

I love to laugh! There is nothing like a good belly to energize the system and clear out the cobwebs in the brain. In these times of the 24-hour news cycle where we are reminded moment to moment of all the terrible events happening all over the world, we need the antidote of lightness and joy. Do you know there is actually a laughter movement now! You can join a laughter club, where people gather at regular meetings to do laughter exercise activities; or you can sign up for laughter yoga classes; and there is even a World Laughter Tour with Certified Laughter Leaders trained in how to create therapeutic laughter.


For me, all I need is an episode or two of the TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway? or a classic movie, like Space Balls, which I must have seen 10 times and laughed at the same jokes every time, or to listen to "Car Talk" on a Saturday morning, or to listen to Scott Grace singing one of his spontaneous song creations or reciting one of his Dr. Seuss-meets-Eckhart Tolle poems. If you're curious, check out his website: www.scottsongs.com.

So, here's to laughter. Do you know it's even good for our health! As if we needed a reason to partake...apparently it boosts the immune system, reduces the level of stress hormones, increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins, exercises the diaphragm and the heart, and improves creativity and memory. Yahoo! It's fun and good for you too!

May you be blessed with joy and laughter today.