Tag Archive for: perseverance

A great celebration!

/0 Comments/in /by

I can’t wait for this great celebration!

As you probably know, May 7 is World Laughter Day.

But what makes me so happy this year is that this date will officially mark the 20th anniversary of my professional laughter yoga practice.

And for the occasion, I invite you to a great party!

We’re going to laugh, move, dance and celebrate life with joy and good humour.

The retrospective

I’ve found that when I look back over the last 20 years, there are certain moments that drain my energy, while others put it into orbit around the sun. I’m sure that if I asked you to do this exercise, you’d have some good and not-so-good memories too. Harder times. Celebrations.

You can imagine that in 20 years, even though I teach intentional laughter, this journey hasn’t always been like the “yellow brick road” in the film The Wizard of Oz, where I would sing and gambol along! hahaha! Hell no!

I had moments of doubt – not that I doubted the power of the method – but doubting myself. Am I okay? Good enough? Comfortable? Supportive and present? Documented? Just… enough.

If in 2023 I’m still hearing people say they’ve never heard of laughter yoga, imagine that in 2003! It makes me laugh to think back on the bewildered looks and wry smiles. “Yoga of what?” I couldn’t judge, because I myself had had this reaction when I first read the words Laughter Yoga: What have they invented now?

Sometimes the perception is that it’s not serious. And God knows it is.

Researchers have shown us enough about the physical and mental health benefits of laughter. Even if it’s difficult to prove beyond any scientific doubt that laughter is good for your health, our state of mind speaks louder than our doubts! After laughing, WE FEEL GOOD – period!

When you consider that cardiologists are now PRESCRIBING minutes of laughter to their patients, you’ll stop thinking it’s far-fetched! In fact, Dr. Michael Miller ‘s book Heal Your Heart contains a whole chapter devoted to laughter and its benefits for heart health.

Although I know all this, I admit that some nights when I’m more tired, I question things and wonder if it’s worth it… Then I remember.

Do you remember…

A few years ago, François Morency published a book in which he recounted his “worst” experiences as a comedian. The worst venues, living and touring conditions, flopping acts… I was almost tempted to write the same kind of behind-the-scenes book about life as a speaker and trainer.

Not to complain, but rather to help me remember what drives me and keeps me going.

And what keeps me going is the spark that lights up in people’s eyes when they realize they can laugh at will. Without thinking. Without judging. Just… laugh!

I finally gave up on this book project because you kept me so busy! The sparks have been flying brighter and brighter. And the ideas and wonderful projects multiplied.

Thank goodness!

I can count on you to celebrate with me on May 7? Whether you’re in the room with me or laughing from home via the School’s YouTube channel, where I’ll be broadcasting live, I’m counting on you to make this a day to remember!

If you’d like to be there on May 7, from 1 to 2 p.m. at Centre St-Pierre (1212 rue Panet, Montréal), I’ve provided the link to register. It’s free, and the registration is to give me an idea of how many people I’ll need for the birthday cake! If you decide to come and you’re not registered, it’s no problem at all! COME! Bring your friends, your kids, your neighbors. It’s a PARTY! A REAL PARTY!

Big smiling kisses

Laughter, joy and health

Linda

 

A very true quote

/0 Comments/in , , /by

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