Birthdays, Ferntree Gully Laughter Club & the Cycle of Life.
Hello. What positive involvement have you been doing for a long time. You began it not knowing where it would lead you and what the outcome would be. Something that felt like a good idea at the time? For me, two things stand out. One, is writing a regular article for the bi-monthly Studfield Wantirna Community newspaper. I have sent off some information about the laughter club and other self-help, informative content for 68 editions, which are usually turned into a blog post such as this.
I wrote this for the 100th edition of the newspaper, which has been an incredible informative resource for all of us who have been reading and contributing to. I commenced in January 2015, enthusiastically writing for the 33rd edition. This piece happens to be my 68th contribution, which has been a highly positive experience. Initially there was some slight trepidation, unsure where it would lead me and whether or not people would be interested to hear about the laughter club. And they did!
The second long term good habit has been that of leading the Ferntree Gully Laughter Club for 21 years. I realised when writing, that it was in fact, about to happen.
It began simply, I received an email from a friend to inform me that Dr Kataria, the Founder of Laughter Yoga International and laughter clubs worldwide, was coming to Melbourne. A year prior, there had been on tv people coming together to laugh as a form of exercise, as a community, having a ball. It blew me away and I wanted to become involved, which I did. It was a day in a large hall in Williamstown, hosted by Laughter Clubs Victoria Inc. We were all laughing uproariously and I left feeling uplifted, energised and with the excited decision to immediately do the laughter leader training and very soon, started the laughter club at the Arboretum in Boronia.
Phillipa Challis, the founder of Laughter Clubs Victoria Inc trained us on Sunday 6th March 2005 and I started the laughter club two weeks later, on the 20th March 2005. It has been a large part of my life and for a couple of years, not many people came along. Often nobody. But being stubborn and not wanting to give up something that I believed in with all my heart, I moved it to behind the Ferntree Gully Library. Numbers were quite small at first only one man came regularly for a long time. After about two or three years, hubby, John felt sorry for me and started to come and lend his support. Still people were not turning up much and we said to each other, if the regular man doesn’t show up today, that’s it, we are giving up. Lo and behold! He did turn up and said that we had to keep coming until he died and well, he is still alive but stopped coming after about ten years and we keep in touch from time to time.
I will repeat something that I have often shared, which is that the laughter club is a wonderful social club, where we come together in laughter and friendship. For some people it has been extremely transformative and life changing. One lady we often mention as a positive example of the good that laughter can do for you, and she will recognise herself if she reads this, also stays in touch. A gentle soul, who had been in a depression for ten years after her marriage break down. She wore black all the time and the third time she joined us, she was wearing periwinkle blue, which is a purplish blue colour. Over time she bought a new wardrobe of bright, colourful clothes and does not wish to wear dark colours any more. That is not to say that there is anything wrong with those of us who prefer to wear black and dark colours. In this example it became important to become outgoing and involved with life, rather than hide away in isolation. To step out, greet life anew and to stop grieving.
We all need certain things in our lives, stimulation, interests, hobbies, work, friendships and for some, annual holidays in which to recharge. For others, regular get aways, maybe something competitive like a hobby or interest, which provides a reason to take a short break.
Are you looking after yourself in this area? The start of a new year or a birthday or other significant date is a good time to review the year and an opportune time to reinvent yourself and let go what no longer serves you. after a review where you are. Looking back, has it been a fruitful year, or fraught with unnecessary intensity, grief, anxiety? We thrive, growing in wisdom with beneficial stress. I am referring to not handling the most difficult periods in our lives as well as we could have and to learn from those times, which is after all, ‘life happening’. This is a friendly little reminder to check in with yourself, take stock of your life across the board and make it more purposeful, bringing growth, peace and harmony. Remember always, Tolerance, Patience and Kindness, towards everyone, including yourself. xo
Coming back to the laughter club, it is one thing that people often love to come along to, either frequently or spasmodically. The benefits are huge, physically as it is an aerobic exercise, it releases emotions and uplifts, mentally stimulates and brings us closer to the essence of life.
Email or phone me to find out more and I can send you information about the benefits and of neuroplasticity, which it helps with brain neurons. I sincerely would love to hear from you and invite you to come along sometime and give it a go. You are in safe company and haven’t anything that I can think of, to lose.
So, go on, give it a go, or even write an email sharing how you are and what floats your boat, if you choose to, because it is beneficial to be introspective, to reach out and share with others something about your life, as we are all in this together, this wheel of life.
When we meet and Contact information
The Ferntree Gully Laughter Club meets behind the Ferntree Gully Library at 11am on the 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month. Occasionally it is 1pm at the end of the month. We are also inside the Ferntree Gully Library on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 2pm, please book with library either by phone or online if you are a member.
First timers, please contact me, Lynette in case of a meeting change. Let me know if you wish to receive either the email newsletter, or the Friday email reminder when the laughter club is next on. There is also a Ferntree Gully Laughter Club Facebook group.
Phone: 0425 799 258
Ferntree Gully Library: 9800 6455
Email: lynette@laughterforliving.com.au
Website: www.laughterforliving.com.au