Reconnecting Our Spirits: Return to Laughter
By Lynn Shaw, Laugh Therapist
I recently received a phone call from a woman inquiring whether I could speak
for her group. Her phone call came on a Sunday afternoon and interrupted my nap,
which usually occurs while watching football. As I answered the phone, my voice
was not my usual level of cheerfulness as I answered with a groggy voice and a
sleepy head. The woman responded to my greeting with, "You certainly don't
sound like you want to
tee hee
right now." Well, lady, what gave you that idea?! I thought, as I tried to
focus on her questions. I soon realized I was not quite
with it so I
told her I would have to call her back the next day.
After I hung up, I wondered how many business owners get calls on their rest
days. Okay, I admit it. I was annoyed to get a business call on a Sunday, and I
was annoyed to be awakened by a business call. The next day I called her back to
decline her invitation due to a previous scheduling. After we hung up, I noted
that her tone of voice was not as cheerful as it had been when she called me. I
realized that my tone the day before had set the tone for our ongoing
connections. And I wanted to call her back and explain everything. Of course I
didn't.
This exchange did make me think about how we are perceived in our attitudes,
tone of voice, and words we convey. Using
therapeutic laughter
as a tool for coping doesn't mean that I am always "on" or always
laughing,
but it does mean that I have a resource at my disposal to help me shift from a
sleepy head to an awakened mind. It does mean that I could have laughingly
talked with this woman and extended some more grace than let my annoyance show.
In essence, I think I blew this one. I could rationalize my choices, but knowing
who I am and how I choose to interact with individuals, I blew it. This woman
had an expectation that the person she saw presenting on the benefits of
laughter whom, in her mind, was quite funny (she did tell me that) would laugh
with her that Sunday afternoon. It didn't happen. I didn't utilize one of my
most valued resources:
laughter.
Right now it's tough for many of us to feel grand when the television images
remind us of the quick results of nature's wild dances. From the Tsunami, to ice
storms, to floods, to mudslides, the world watches and is filled with hope and
despair. We can easily feel disconnected like my Sunday caller and I did. We
may feel angry. We may not utilize the resources that we value to replenish our
spirits and find our spirits sagging from negativity and hopelessness.
Rather than turn from all we know, put one resource into practice. Review the
e-courses at
Self-Healing Expressions
and find what speaks to you these days. If you can support the relief efforts,
do so in whatever capacity you can. If you can smile on the phone, do so. As for
me, I will be making a phone call to a woman who wanted to
laugh and reconnect our spirits.
Lynn Shaw resides in Indiana and is the creator and instructor of the
Self-Healing Expressions course
Laughter for the Healing Heart.
Learn more about Lynn and her course here:
