Hello Everyone
I feel you will agree that we and people generally, have changed significantly in the last few years, as a result of the trauma, sickness, and isolation due to the Covid-19 virus. Many of us live fearfully, in more isolation and feeling alone nowadays. Especially as the Covid virus is still prevalent and I know of people who have caught it either again, or for the first time, as well as others who live in fear of catching the virus.
We must march on and use these negative opportunities looming down upon us to reach out to one another in support and comradeship. This is exactly what many social groups are about, in particular this one, the Ferntree Gully Laughter Club.
Human Beings are social creatures, not meant to be locked up, isolated, alone, apart from family, friends, workmates, or social groups. We can use ‘bad things’ that happen to us to grow, to evolve, to be more connected with positive energy, spirit, or whatever belief resonates with our good self.
In Brief, Five Major Benefits of Laughing
1 – Reduces Stress Laughter is an effective stress management tool and is the fastest way to reduce stress, whether it be physical, emotional, or mental stress.
2 – Mood Elevator Laughter releases feel-good endorphins of serotonin and dopamine. Our perception shifts, making one’s life feel better, as well as energising us more.
3 – Health Benefits Laughter is a cardiovascular exercise that promotes physical wellness on all levels.
4 – Social Connector Laughter connects us. In particular, here I am referring to attending a free laughter club. Laughers feel like family.
5 – Laughing Through Challenges We can all laugh in good times, but laughter yoga teaches people to laugh unconditionally even in hard times. It provides strength in adversity and is a coping mechanism that may help us be able to feel mentally positive, regardless of the circumstances.
In particular, this article addresses loneliness and point 4 – Social Connector, suggesting it is highly important that we have various social networks, to avoid that horrible loneliness feeling.
Social or Learning Groups and Activities
A laughter club may not be your cup of tea. If you care to look around, there are innumerable social groups, many of which you may feel comfortable joining. Councils and libraries could be a place to start, as there is a huge support for people not only in learning new skills but also speakers from various groups introducing themselves and their group. The University of the Third Age, or U3A as it is known, is remarkable and people who join up at the start of each year can easily book into many classes, becoming busy with a variety of activities. Have you checked your local U3A out?
Laughter Club During Covid
Members and even international laughter club people came together, with great gusto and camaraderie. We met weekly on Zoom, which was excellent for several members, some of whom lived alone. Belonging to this laughter family sets a lovely pattern and awareness of the importance of involving ourselves in life.
This may mean perhaps holding a more outward attention and awareness of what we are involved in, besides coming to laugh, it assists us in addressing and monitoring that.
I feel it is important to live in harmony with ourselves, in the community, with family, also extending out into the world and everything we do and are involved in. We live in a duality on earth, which is always changing. You know, we can be too introverted, staying at home alone, happy in that for a while and we can then do the opposite when we realise that it has gone the other way, and we feel secluded.
Self-Care and Balance
Check in with how your self-care is currently and make the appropriate changes. We need to look after our bodies, which work hard and could probably do with better care, food, and attention than we provide for them.
I encourage you to look for and find that balance in your life. Enjoy life! Do what you love to do. Make time for some fun things, get outside in the fresh air, with nature, in the garden, whatever rocks your world. Life can be and has been difficult, and depressing, apparently going in a direction we cannot possibly fathom with our finite mind. Writing this reminds me of Desiderata, by Max Ehrmann, the words ”With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.”
When and Where?
Great news to share, John and I are both excited and grateful to bring you more opportunities to laugh, which is doing some laughter yoga and meditation sessions inside three local libraries. And one on 13th March at the Mount Waverley Community Centre.
Ferntree Gully Laughter Club – we meet behind the Ferntree Gully Library at 11am Sunday, on the 2nd 4th and 5th Sunday of the month.
Boronia Library – 11am 1st Saturday of the month
Ferntree Gully Library – 2pm 4th Tuesday of the month
Rowville Library – 11am on 3rd Saturday of the month.
For first-timers for the Ferntree Gully Laughter Club, please contact Lynette in case there is a meeting change.
Cheerio for now and all of us at the laughter club are looking forward to seeing you some time!
Lots of Love and Laughter. Lynette Mitchell.