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Reflections April 2012

Life Now

Life's Playground

By Dusty Reed

Experiencing laughter is not a thought process which, by concentrating, becomes stronger. It is an action.

Why do we take life on such a serious note? Life offers a fragrance of joy, love and laughter. We taste joy and love but forget to enjoy the laughter. We have the gift of laughter. Why not play with it?

No matter what the circumstances, accepting humor within is vital for healthy and effective growth. Seeing ourselves through a window of humor brings assurance in our ability to be what we desire.

Finding laughter amongst disappointment or frustration can instantly change the scene. Humor blends the discontent with cheerfulness and makes the road a joyful one.

Allowing favorable emotions to rule brings high values. What principle holds the highest value? Happiness? Joy? Compassion? Gratitude? Love? Do we experience our highest value frequently? What can we do to bring it into constant being? Joy comes through acceptance of what is happening.

Experiencing laughter is not a thought process which, by concentrating, becomes stronger. It is an action.

In a book series by Jan Karon, one character enjoys telling jokes and his friends get pleasure in asking him and then hearing the jokes. He tells them with a good North Carolina drawl and they bring a chuckle just reading them! We can collect good jokes to share with others -- there are many available online. Smiling as we share them brings smiles from others.

We can grab hold of the favorables and begin emphasizing them so there will be no room left for the adverse. We can laugh aloud, squeal, jump, smile, send someone a love message -- anything to induce healthy emotions.

Watching children playing can bring laughter. They are filled with innocence and are experiencing the simple joy in life as they play. They offer adults a beautiful reminder of the joy available for anyone. Again, we can share what we have seen or heard from children with others.

We can allow our giggles to take over when we go for a walk. We can hug a tree, greet the invisible pixies and gnomes, laugh with the rain, smile with the sunset. Have you observed a mischievous tree elf waving at you with a leaf when there is not a breeze stirring? Have you gotten a glimpse of the elves playing hide and seek through the mossy undergrowth of the woods behind a Lady Slipper or Lily of the Valley? Have you laughed with the dancing fairies as they glisten across the lake when the sun touches their gossamer gowns?

Television commercials frequently show the mother smiling after a child spills something and they clean up the mess together. This is easier to do in a commercial than in real life. However, it can be practiced and one can smile rather than reacting with sharp scolding words. The smile rubs off on the child and he or she gains a sense of humor by seeing the joy along the path of life's journey.

Here's a weekly calendar that can be used by anyone.

  • Monday - Let’s get acquainted with ourselves. When was the last time we smiled? Have we giggled recently? What about laughter heard by others? When was the last time our stomach hurt or tears rolled from heartfelt laughter? Will you come play with me?
  • Tuesday - Let us express some energy. Be a cheerleader. Give me an "L" . . . Give me an "A" . . . Give me a "U" . . . Give me a "G" . . . Give me an "H" . . . Give me a "T" . . . Give me an "E" . . . Give me an "R" . . . On the count of three, stand up and LAUGH. One . . . Two . . . Three!
  • Wednesday - Let us take colors into life's playground to see what emotions and hear what thoughts they stir within. What feeling do we experience in colors? Does blue give us smiles? Self-assurance? Can you smell the freshness? Does red initiate energy? Do you feel its warmth? Is yellow a giggle? Carefree? What about green? Does it bring a chuckle? Sincerity?
  • Thursday - Let us taste a laughter pill. We can find ten minutes to roll with laughter. We will think about the little blunder we made yesterday. We begin with a smile. Then a giggle. Now, we laugh aloud. We begin to bend over in a delightful belly laugh. Tears roll from a healthy foot-stomping guffaw. "If you're going to be able to look back on something and laugh about it, you might as well laugh about it now." - Marie Osmond
  • Friday - We will count our smiles today. We are looking for one hundred smiles. There is only one rule. They must be given to others.


Meet Dusty