Last Thursday, I was able to laugh in Russian.

I was invited to an interview-discussion followed by a brief laughter yoga session by my colleague Dimitri, who is a Laughter Yoga Master in Russia.

An unusual experience, I admit.

I’d just come out of a 90-minute workshop with a stressed and worried work team. We’d had a lot of laughs! And after all that, my voice was weak and I lacked energy, I admit (I could even say I was “out of gas”!).

I hadn’t considered doing 30 minutes of laughter exercises on top of what I’d just done in person with this team! hehehe.

It went like this

Dimitri asked me his questions in Russian so that everyone could understand. The translator would give me the questions in English. I’d answer in English, and the translator would bring it all back in Russian.

Some of those present must surely have understood English, because I could see reactions before the Russian version of what I was saying.

The translator did an AWESOME job and my hat’s off to him! I really do. Having already acted as Dr Kataria’s translator at seminars, I know that it’s not easy to pick up on what the person has just said, with all the nuances of the vocabulary. It makes you hot!

I found it fascinating…

Because of the group I was working with that day, I wasn’t able to get on the line with Dimitri before 1:30 pm. There’s an 8-hour difference between Quebec and Russia. So it was 9.30pm for them when we started.

I never expected to find more than 45 people on ZOOM with us! A nice surprise!

Some forty men and women were present… and wide awake to welcome me and laugh with me!

You may be prejudiced when you think of Russia right now. And that’s normal. But the important thing to remember is this.

Let’s not generalize!

Not ALL English people drink tea! ALL Americans don’t wear cowboy hats! ALL Quebecers don’t blaspheme! (Well, I’ve chosen some rather amusing examples, but you get my point?)

Kindness and love

Dimitri was telling us that they’ve opened laughter clubs all over the place, and that they’re well attended. That Russia’s laughter yoga instructors and teachers are doing even more to encourage people to laugh together… for peace. They even have a TV show on a national channel, during which they talk about the benefits of laughter and get viewers to do laughter yoga exercises.

How wonderful!

At one point, I thought I’d come up with a very appropriate laugh. We started by laughing in French (HAHAHAHAHA!). Then in English (HAHAHAHAHA!). Then in Russian (HAHAHAHAHAHA!).

NO DIFFERENCE! When we laugh, we speak the same language! Universally, we laugh at the same sounds!

And that’s great!

I’ve always believed that human beings are the same no matter what language we speak. We’re all looking for love and happiness. At least, I think we are.

We’re all the same…

Our blood is the same color.

Our hearts beat to the same rhythm.

Our laughter echoes the same sounds.

Even though I couldn’t understand a word they were saying, I could FEEL the kindness and humanity.

The next time you find yourself in a situation where you don’t understand what the other person is saying, connect to your feelings. Just to see if you feel a closeness of heart with the person.

I give you the laugh of appreciation. To each and every one of you who read me here.

And I say to you yaloubloutébia! (It means I love you in Russian… I learned that a long time ago and remembered just in time to tell them!) and it’s spelled like this in Russian Я люблю тебя. I put it phonetically! HAHAHA!

Beautiful day!

HAHAMaste

Linda, your HAHA Sister