Painting by Belynda Wilson Thomas

Laughter is an instant vacation. Milton Berle

Last evening we had our second module for the course I am taking. What a fun group to be part of. We are an amalgamation of people from different groups in Mississauga. Our guest facilitator was Anto Chan a performance artist and comedienne. If I get a chance to catch one of his shows I’ll take it. Two of the funniest women I’ve met in a long time stayed back after the course, they work together and must play off each other all day. They both have self-deprecating Humor and Anto offered them a chance at performing stand-up. They are that good.

I tried stand-up one night. In Toastmasters a woman was putting on a comedy show at a local bar. She was looking for Toastmasters to step up and I took the challenge. I got compliments on my material which was observations about life, men, and women, but I hardly got a laugh. Humor is not easy but some people are naturals at it.

Listening to the two of them made me think I need more humor in my life. I’m not sure how it will go over if I start making jokes about some of the serious stuff in life. There are things I can’t change and instead of letting them get me down maybe a good laugh would be better. My husband will be looking at me wondering what got into you. Maybe I’ll get a smile or even a laugh and won’t that be better for both of us.

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face. Victor Hugo

One of the questions we were asked is what metaphor would we use for ourselves when we are at our best, challenged, and at our worst. When I look at my notes I think we were to try and make it funny. I missed that. Here is what I came up with.

When I am at my best, I am like a tree with deep roots and large branches giving my gifts to the world. When I am at my most challenged I am like a desert, dry, hard, and unyielding waiting for the rain to soften me and bring forth flowers.

I could have tried to come up with something funny, but I didn’t because funny isn’t my go-to. Could it become my go-to? Would that be irritating to those I live with as they feel I am making light of what they face? One of the goals I set last night is to listen with an open and reflective heart. I sometimes think people think I belittle what they feel like they should get over it, and move on. I’ll have to be careful with the humor as feeling laughed at isn’t better.

If I can bring self-deprecating humor into the situation will that be the balm that makes things better? They say when the student is ready the teacher appears. I expect to get a lot out of this course because we are learning about each other’s stories and everyone has a story to tell. When we find our voice we find ourselves. This course is all about finding our voice, telling our stories, and connecting with others.

Is laughter the best medicine? Do we have enough of it in our lives?

Laughter is the sound of the soul dancing. Jarod Kintz

A day without laughter is a day wasted. Charlie Chaplin

When I hear somebody sigh, “Life is hard,” I am tempted to ask, “Compared to what?” Sydney Harris

Thank you for reading this post. I hope you enjoyed it. I hope you will come back and read some more. Have a blessed day filled with gratitude, joy, and love.

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Thank you to all of you who read my book Secrets and Silence. A special thank you to those who leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads. If you purchase an item through the Amazon link I receive a small percentage of the sale through the Amazon affiliate program.

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Secrets and Silence: What if your biggest secret became public? Paperback – Large Print, Aug. 29 2020

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