Laughter and tears

For many people, laughter and tears are polar opposites. One is synonymous with happiness, the other with sorrow.

I’m living both intensely this week as I lead programs (conferences and workshops) with wonderful groups and laugh my heart out, and as I learn one after the other of the deaths of two very dear friends… I cry my eyes out… and I’m filled with gratitude for these people who believed in the great value of laughter and sororité (the French word for Sisterhood)… Two people I loved and who loved me.

Why am I sharing this? I’m not doing this to ask for your sympathy, but rather to tell you that despite the tears, I feel a luminous joy in my heart. It’s not bright, but it’s there. Alive and “settled”. I’m not too surprised, since I believe it was the assiduous practice of intentional laughter that ignited it!

Madan Kataria tells us to laugh in spite of everything… Yeah. Sometimes it’s just not an option – like it is for me right now. You’d tell me to laugh and I’d want to tell you to get lost! (or worse! hahaha)

But if you keep laughing every day, it’s joy that settles in… in spite of everything. See the difference? Not laughter. JOY. And that’s good.

Laughter, joy and health
Your HAHA Sister, Linda