Last week, I attended several networking events. At one of them, one of the speakers said something that made me realize just how far I’ve come. Do it and do it until you get it right.

Do it… again and again and again and again. Until you get it right.

It’s so true!

Think about it. When a child learns to walk, he falls, and falls, and falls! Does he get discouraged and stop trying to get up and move forward? NOT. AT ALL. AT ALL! He keeps going… until he succeeds! That’s his goal and he KEEPS GOING!

Hey boy… the number of times I’ve tried to do something and, because on the second try I didn’t get the results I wanted, I stopped… Crazy!

Perseverance or stubbornness?

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that it’s easy to get discouraged after a few unsuccessful attempts. Not that I give up when something doesn’t work out, but rather that I don’t know whether I’m being persistent or stubborn! It’s a small but important nuance.

In my opinion, perseverance enables us to achieve our goals, realize our potential and succeed in things we believe in. The definition I found on the web basically says this: To apply one’s will, to use patience to pursue an action despite difficulties, to remain firm in a resolution, an opinion, an attitude.

Stubbornness on the other hand has a more negative connotation for me. If I’m stubborn about something, then I’m stubborn! The image that accompanies this concept of stubbornness is that of a billy goat running into a wall. He’s charging and charging and charging headfirst… and that’s not very positive! Obstinate, unreasoning attachment to an opinion or bias.

In the case of the sentence that made me react, it’s all about perseverance. And when the goal is worthwhile, when it’s something that’s good for my health, that’s good for humanity, then that’s a very positive thing! and I buy that!

When I tell you that hearing those words made me realize how far we’ve come, I was thinking of several things.

To my beginnings on two legs, trying to stand up and move forward, of course, but also and above all, to all the effort I put into becoming what I am today. Building a business that allows me to laugh, spread good cheer, reduce my own stress and help others reduce theirs… to laugh EVERY DAY! That’s no mean feat!

A difficult start

I’ll always remember my first experience with laughter yoga. Oh, how uncomfortable I was with the idea of laughing for no reason! Oh how I remember the thought that crossed my mind that morning as I was told I should laugh after saying my first name, laugh after saying where I was from, laugh after saying what I did for a living!“Uh… no! That’s vrrrrrrrrrreally not funny! And why should I laugh if it’s not funny?!”

But I had paid for my internship and I had DECIDED to give it a try. I had CHOSEN to see what could happen and if it could help me. Thank God I persevered! Much to my delight!

To this day, I often hear people tell me that they could never do what I do. That they’d never be able to laugh “at nothing” as naturally as I do!

Well, I’d tell them Do it and do it until you get it right! Don’t stop because you think it’s too strange, too left-field. Just keep at it! You’ll see that in the end you’ll succeed, and you’ll feel BETTER and HAPPIER!

Yes!

Doesn’t that give you a little extra pep to continue what you want to do or what you’ve started? Don’t be discouraged! You’re walking on your own two feet now? Are you? You’ve got the proof!

Inspiration comes from everywhere, when you least expect it!

I give you a big smile. I tilt my head back a little and laugh happily and freely!

Laughter, joy and health

Your HAHA Sister, Linda