Are We Having Fun Yet? Laughter is a gift.
This idea has always been one of my core values. Basically if you are one of my really good friends, you and I are going to laugh—a lot. And if we don’t know each other, our laughter will connect us. One of the nicest material gifts ever given to me was a bumper sticker that reads: SHE WHO LAUGHS, LASTS.
As it turns out, the research shows that not only is laughter therapeutic, but laughing can be a path to intimacy. Do a Google search on the role of humor in relationships. You will see that lots of people are thinking and writing about this issue. It is preoccupying us, maybe because our world seems to be facing so many serious issues. I am not talking about laughing at a funny TV sitcom (are there any left?). I am talking about that pre-verbal connection that we make with another human being that brings us in sync with each other. It takes us outside of our heads and into our bodies for a rare magical non-judgmental moment.
If you are a parent, you know your child’s laughter is one of the most irresistible sounds around.
Are we having fun yet?
This is the sometimes cynical, sometimes sad question my husband and I ask each other when things are a little strained. It usually means—we are not!
Want to Share Laughter?
Michael Bungay Stanier, has come up with 8 principles for bringing fun into your life that I think really work and I want to share them with you:
- Stop hiding who you really are
- Start being intensely selfish
- Stop following the rules
- Start scaring yourself
- Stop taking it all so damn seriously
- Start getting rid of the crap
- Stop being busy
- Start something
Curious about how these will add fun and lead to more irresistible laughter and intimacy in your life? Watch his video, The Eight Irresistible Principles of Fun. Then go find your home videos of your child (or yourself) laughing at age 2 and keep playing them over and over.
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Photo courtesy of Jim Epler
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October 3rd, 2008 at 6:16 am
Pearl, I just love your posts. Both “me in 20 years” and “heal your relationship with money” have got me thinking deep. I love these suggestions, too, particularly getting rid of the crap. Having just helped my mom downsize to a 400sq ft apt in her dream city (New York!), I am on a mission to clear the crap our of our lives, too. Two of my favorite crap-clearing resources: unclutterer.com takes a gleefully dorky approach, and “Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui” is a deeply soulful look at the effects of physical, emotional, bodily, and spiritual clutter.
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:24 am
Thanks Suzyn. I really appreciate the feedback. And THANK YOU for the link to unclutterer.com. Awesome. I loved the post today about home-offices. My parents also downsized to a small NYC apartment several years ago and guess who got a lot of their “stuff”! I was just looking around my home this morning and realized that without all our various hand-me-downs, our home would be quite empty- and I was not unappy with that vision. You are making me think about a post related to living with a “crap” collector. MMM.
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:27 am
Start scaring your self. Hmmmm….I'm going to think about that one today. Thanks, Pearl.
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:43 am
perfect time to receive your message Pearl. I get stuck in the “too serious mode” Thanks for the reminder.
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:13 am
Ah, yes, the precious family heirlooms that no one else wants. The NYT actually had a piece not too long ago on how to say no – which I didn't use nearly enough! Can't wait to read your post.
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:33 am
LOVE this post. Perfect for a Friday. I am currently preparing myself for a weekend of laughs. Excellent post, Pearl!
October 5th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Couldn't agree with you more Pearl. Laughter changes everything. It's one of the things I write on every wedding card I send…..that their lives be filled with laughter (and a few other things too).
Great job.
Love,
Judy