Celebrations

Anniversaries

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Birthdays, Ferntree Gully Laughter Club & the Cycle of Life.

Birthdays, Ferntree Gully Laughter Club & Cycles 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

A Mother’s Love

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A Mother's Love blog, written for Mother's Day 2024

Written for Mother’s Day, 12th May 2024.

Wishing you a meaningful Mother’s Day, reminiscing, grieving, celebrating, whatever that may be or bring up for you. I felt inspired to share and go within, feeling, as I, probably like most of us, have unresolved past stuff about my mum. It can feel raw, mixed up, filled with gratitude and regret. As we grow, our memories and perceptions usually change. Here it is for your reading and feeling experience. You are welcome to reply to me, especially if it stirs up feelings which you may need help with. Enjoy.

When we are young, for most of us, our mother is our survival as we are totally helpless, dependent babies and small children. Mum is warm, nurturing, always present, her love and attention protects and sustains us.

As young ones, she sustains us with her love and support, filling our lives as only she can, to the best of her ability, with the tools she has or had. No one is perfect, yet as little ones, we see our mum as all knowing, a Goddess, or an Angel. I know that I did at any rate and remember clearly seeing her like a queen in my life, with rose coloured glasses.

As we grow, we may draw apart, seeing her from more critical eyes. This can make us feel sad, regretful, in later life, missing her, the opportunities to be together.

What was or is your experience? Is your mum still living or has she passed away recently, or perhaps a long time ago?

It seems to be a common thing that I often read about when people share on social media, they miss their mum! No matter what age the writer is, or how long it is since their mother has died, they still miss her, even on a daily basis.

Yet our mum’s love, presence, wisdom, uniqueness, is everlasting. Somehow her energy continues to be felt and mum still lives on in your hearts.

Your experience may have been filled with judgment, which is natural as kiddies grow, piecing things together, forming their own personalities. We may grow up wanting to and trying to be different, to do it better, than she did. We unconsciously form limiting beliefs about our mother, which influences us for the rest of our lives.

I feel it is important to make peace with all of this, no matter your own experience. We need to heal within ourselves. Mum did her best, with what she had.

Stop blaming her or yourself for the pain and suffering you gave to each other, if that was the case. Forgive yourself and your Mum. Life is a journey, filled with richness. Experiences that make, break, test and strengthen us in wisdom. Learn from your experiences, share yourself with others, grow in wisdom and self-love.

Your life is a gift from God, whatever you conceive Him or Her to be. Be kind to yourself and allow the past to be let go of, to recede to where it belongs. Live in the present. Greet each day anew and yourself, others.

Our time is not a given. We can do better. Yes. We really can do better!

Our influence may be made positive from our footsteps upon the earth.

Ponder what have been the biggest influences in your life? Mum and parents figure right up there as being some of the biggest, for a time anyhow. Particularly mum’s, which unconsciously moulds us, with patterns, beliefs and programs.

We may leave our mother, become caught up in work, family, hobbies, fun, addictions. At times we miss the nurturing love, the special unique love that only our own mother can provide and the friendship that was possible between us.

Can you bring and embrace yourself with your own unconditional, nurturing love to be able you to feel thoroughly nourished on every level, within and to without?

There is still time, as long as you live and breathe, there is much growth that you can do. Then do it. Make each day count as an expression of your love and hope for the future, for humanity, for this our mother earth.

So much darkness is upon the earth. Do not give up the fight. Soldier on and remember the warmth of your mother’s love, allow it to feel your heart expanding in the night.

Rest up my dear and awake with love, hope and choose joy. Make it a habit each morning and throughout the day to remember to choose joy; it will become palpable, strong in your entire being. No matter what happens. Choose joy.

Love is the only thing that really matters and choosing joy can help us to express and be the vessel for sharing pure unconditional love. It will happen over time, each lifetime, it will increase.

Wake up remembering, be love, choose joy. Be love, feel love, unconditional love, not sentimentality, lose the sentimentality, believe in love. Love nourishes, each night ask yourself, was I kind, loving and choosing joy today?

My parting words to you are – forgive each other, light a candle, or incense, say a prayer, journal, be grateful for everything it was, whether you took the opportunity to embrace your evolution or otherwise. Resolve to do better every day and never, ever, ever, ever give up, for life is a journey and for ourselves and everything else upon Mother Earth. We are all in this together, as one.

Blessings and Love to You,

Lynette Mitchell xo

Birthdays, Anniversaries, Celebrations, Grief and Loss.

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Christmas, Birthdays, Celebrations, Grief, Loss

Do you love having birthdays? At laughter club, we do and celebrate member’s birthdays with a cake. It is an opportunity for people to feel accepted, loved, have a sense of belonging and sometimes, to get over self consciousness.

I feel to talk about the elephant in the room, because at this time of the year, coming up to Christmas, many of us will find the festive season very difficult. It is all right to be as we are, to take our time with healing and very likely, there will always be a hole, albeit a place of wounding in our heart.

You will no doubt agree that nothing will ever be the same since Covid struck us. I hope you find this piece of writing to be of some comfort and encouragement in your life. My sincere apologies if I miss the mark. I welcome you to contact me also if you need to talk and receive support.

My view is that life is about experiencing living to the fullest, growth, evolution, to be of service to ourselves and to all of life as we meet everyday things. We need to move on and feel as we feel, which is not go to into self-pity, instead to find joy in small everyday things.

Gratitude is another key, as we can be grateful for way more than we may imagine. Joy and gratitude open our hearts, allow us to feel a connection with our spirit, nature, and God, however you conceive God’s energy to be. We sometimes need to regain lost faith in life, after losses in our lives. The losses may be personal or the closing of a chapter, unrequited desires or work things going awry.

Okay so that is enough of the doom and gloom. I might add here that I speak from personal experience, as our son died three years ago. He was not sick very long and we all know that one’s kids are not supposed to predecease us, yet they do. We also in the last three years had a brother, sister and two brothers-in-law die. Losing one’s pets can also be the most devastating time for animal lovers. Who would disagree with that?

There is a gift in every situation and my understanding is that our hearts need to break, to expand them with deeper love and compassion. Another aspect is the opportunity to reflect on our life and relationships.

Now some cheerful stuff. We can choose how we feel, be self-determining and look to life in a positive way, no matter what we have been through. We can gradually work through healing and integrating our losses, looking forward with hope and understanding. We acknowledge what or who is missing in our life, incorporating new opportunities and a growing awareness of looking after oneself.

We are loved and supported by the Energies of life and can become stronger, more resourceful, after the most difficult times. In fact, I have heard and believe our spirit draws closer when we are in the deepest trough, which are our most incomprehensively difficult periods in our lives. I am not sure why that is. We can treat it like a working hypothesis, that there is great learning to be had each day. We have the opportunity to get up, start again, do better and be a loving, supporting, human being. I believe in you!

Looking After Yourself

You need to look after yourself first and foremost, as you are no good to anyone or anything else if you are not at your best. This includes having a healthy diet, enough sleep, taking time out for hobbies, meditation if you choose to, and in general, to understand that your body is important. It is a privilege and a gift from Gaia, our earth mother, and we must honour and respect it. It is normal to slip up and want to be lazy. Ask yourself if you are doing your best each day and if you like at the end of the day, sit quietly, review your day, and learn from it for the next day.

Part of self-nurture is about Neuroplasticity, to create new brain neurons, through having experiences in your life. Topmost I feel is the value of adding laughter to it daily. We need to interact with others, to hug, if it is appropriate, to be involved in art, singing, exercise. The following things are beneficial to rewire the brain.

Being artistic, which can take many forms. Laughing, singing, dancing, gym, or other exercise. Learning a new skill, a musical instrument, or innumerable things. The stimulation that travel can provide, also reading and even fasting, it is beneficial to rest your body and fast for 18 hours. Expanding your vocabulary and sleeping sufficiently. There are many things that will keep your body healthier and allay the effects of aging. I suggest we be vigilant and make every effort to remain involved in the process of living. Good luck to you! Thank you for your interest.

Ferntree Gully Laughter Club

Laughter club returns on Sunday 22nd January at 11am. First timers, please message, email or ring Lynette before you first come. Here is a link to the laughter club page.

Lots of Love and Laughter,

Lynette Mitchell. xo

Acknowledgements, Birthdays & Anniversaries

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During the training for my Holistic Living Counselling Diploma, the principle, Alannah Dore encouraged me to take stock, recognise and acknowledge my achievements; in this case the Diploma I had worked so hard for. Generally, I tended to move on to whatever is next and agree it can be important to take a moment to appreciate oneself and the efforts we put into our lives. Which one do you do? Mark an achievement or perhaps undermine the effort that you put into it and avoid a fuss and bother? It is a great question to ponder and act on, if you feel to.

This blog is to share some achievements and milestones, acknowledging the support of others who helped and supported me all the way. 2022 is a satisfying year so far and it heralds in fruition in many ways. Fruition and then, what is next on the agenda to focus my energy on? I will slip in here too, a reminder to have a nice balance of goals, work or retirement life and making sure too that you have quiet times and fun filled projects and hobbies. Of course, we are usually swinging between the extremes and that is quite normal. Sometimes it is steps forwards, then some backwards. As long as we are maintaining and progressing steadily in our lives, we are on the right track. That is my firm belief and especially, to not be in judgment of ourselves.

It feels timely to share about putting time and energy into looking after oneself, which is particularly directed to the older generation, like myself and my husband John. Be consistent with regular movement, any exercise that you can manage, and be involved with life in whatever way suits your personality. We regularly see a chiropractor and acupuncturist, for support and preventative treatment, which benefits us enormously. Health professionals encourage clients and patients to just keep moving, as much as you can because of a variety of reasons.

That is partly why we have kept the laughter club going now for 17 years in March, to keep up an interest and involvement in life, in addition to the plethora of benefits that laughing together brings. You can feel flat when you start a laughter club session, changing to becoming upbeat and enthusiastic at the end of the half hour.

In a nutshell, my 80th Birthday on 22 April, the 17th Birthday for the Ferntree Gully Laughter Club on 1st April and 8 years for writing for the Studfield Wantirna Community Newspaper.

Studfield Wantirna Community Newspaper

I am most grateful to have the opportunity to share the benefits of laughter and other beneficial things, attitudes, meditation, ideas, in this local paper. I have been contributing bi-monthly for 7 years, beginning the 8th year. Wow, whoever would have thought at the start for it to be ever continuing. So much gratitude to the team and supporters ongoing, my, how time flies.

Lynette’s 80th Birthday

I confess and am proud to becoming 80 in April, which I share with you to encourage you to never ever give up, keep on keeping on, don’t stop, or else you will stagnate and go backwards. That being said, it is also necessary to become more aware of your physical, mental, emotional bodies and take time to nurture and revitalise them. No guilt or self-judgment please!

It is good to be busy, but not good if we do not allow yourself recoupment time, to sit quietly by a stream, on a park bench, whatever works and you will know what a good thing will be to make more time for, if you have let it slip. Despite what I wrote to begin with, there will not be any big celebration, simply a quiet dinner on the day and probably a picnic lunch with the laughter clubbers, who play such an important role in our lives.

Ferntree Gully Laughter Club 17th Birthday

Once again, who could have ever imagined starting out that I would have been doing this for such a period. John joined me about ten years ago, he said he felt sorry for me as no body was turning up and I nearly gave it away many times. Then Pete came, on that last day when we said if nobody shows up today, we will give it away. God bless Pete!

The laughter club has been awesome for all of us, mostly there are six regulars, a small number and it is expanding since I started a Meetup group. In fact, people are travelling an hour to be there.

Acknowledgements

Thank you all of you who are reading this, of which I have no idea. It is rare to hear back regarding my blog or newspaper article, yet people share they read them from time to time. This ties in with not seeking recognition, to continue as a form of service, what one is drawn to. This also acknowledges you too, where do you live your life selflessly, without any form or desire for recognition?

Human beings can be wonderful, Australians are known for supporting each other in particular, when the going gets tough, due to natural calamities, disease, loss. We can be kind, compassionate, these types of times bring out the best in us, we are more connected on many levels, implying our very own spirit.

Thanks to everyone who has come into my life, John’s and my life, touched it in some way, fleetingly perhaps, or ongoing in some way. I would like to reach back and speak to many people who have had an affect upon me and are way back in the past, unable to get in touch with, or deceased.

Let’s all appreciate each other and ourselves.

I love you and encourage you to love yourself, without judgment, self-accepting and authentic. We are all works in progress, and I appreciate you. Some no doubt reading this will feel I waffle on a bit. Maybe. Others will resonate and feel my heart.

Love always, Lynette xo Sending you and your’s blessings.

Click Here for Ferntree Gully Laughter Club page

Let’s do it different this Christmas 2020

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Regarding 2020 and this upcoming Christmas I feel to share my experience and feelings, for those who have had similar ones and are looking for alternative ways of coping. The intention is one of planting ideas to help you grow and blossom inside.

What an extraordinary year it has been, so many challenges, stresses, limitations as many of us have never experienced before. At the same time you may have noticed that with the worst things that can possibly happen to us, there comes equally unparalleled opportunities for growth.

We have observed with the advent of Covid-19, limitations placed upon us which we have received with varying amounts of grace and grumbling. It had to happen. The earth, or Gaia as many of us know her, is in dire straits, with her resources being pillaged, and abused. Yet it is not too late! There is still time to turn things around. Hope is not entirely lost.

How this relates to Christmas for me, has been to have stronger convictions to resist the conditioned patterning learnt right from early days, about it being very much about materialism, gift giving and particularly receiving.

Letting go of judgment, as we are all where we are at and for me my life has been about not having strong enough convictions to carry through what has been felt in my heart. That is to not get caught up in all the hype, the stretching of the wallet and using credit card. To feel there wasn’t a choice, which meant rushing hither and thither. It seemed as if everyone in the family would all agree, it would be easier, simpler, more of a haven and peace filled time, to spend less focus on presents and make it about connecting and love. Acknowledging the spiritual and religious meaning behind it all is important also. For many it comes first and foremost.

What I am sharing is my experience and your experience is fine. Unless you feel the pull to do it a different way. And what would that be? Perhaps you can step out of the mould, outword traditions and choose something new. I frequently mention in blogs and personal growth classes about greeting anew. To be able to live consciously in the present moment, aware and responsive instead of reacting. To greet yourself anew is to question whether you are living mindfully, perhaps to before you go to bed journal how it is going. I have a couple of great resources to help you, I will send upon request and you may like to join a class.

This year my experience was different, there was greater resolution to assist with clarity and stronger boundaries to do what felt ‘right’ for me. The alternative was backing down, being influenced by ones with stronger wills to stay with age old traditions.

The alternative is feeling a sense of peace and wellbeing, gone the angst about Christmas and going along with ‘should do this because it is expected and because it is how it has always been done’.

Summing up, reconsider how you go about things, particularly the silly season. You may like to sit and feel into what the whole Christmas season means to you, write it down, so you remember. We can get caught up in what we have to do, thinking there is no choice. We are not victims and can stand up and be counted. Break the mould.

Here’s to doing it differently. Let go of some rules, be kind to yourself. Stop hanging on to things, the past, regrets. What if we greet each day, each moment, as a new day, moment and live consciously? We can achieve pretty much anything we believe we can and living in this way greatly assists. Let’s do it!

Finally an important point is we can not ask other people to change. Our actions may create friction and I have found usually things work out for the best when we hold strong. It helps to have the intention of creating the greatest possible harmony between people. Sometimes new ideas take time to germinate but don’t let that stop you from going for it, gently and with love.

Love and wishing you an awesome Christmas, with loving friends, family, and yourself. Be grateful and kind to yourself. You deserve it.

Lynette Mitchell xo

Anniversaries and Greeting Anew

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I wrote about anniversaries a while back and felt it’s a great topic to revisit, after focusing on them for the 50th Edition of the Studfield Wantirna Community News. What a fantastic achievement for this lovely community paper, which brings an abundance of news and issues to local people. That also speaks volumes of the ongoing dedication and energy by the staff of volunteers who have contributed to this ongoing success.

I think you will agree the importance of celebrating milestones and taking the opportunity to look back and review the circumstances and history of the celebration. At the laughter club, we drop into spontaneity when there is such an event such as a birthday, anniversary or any other occasion to be marked. It livens the imagination. Just imagine the milestone of a child taking its first steps and the thrill and pride of the parents and family witnessing it. When little ones are young, they are celebrated and given praise and encouragement at every opportunity. As time wears on, there seems to be less acknowledging of special achievements, which can be a little sad and disappointing.

Greeting Anew – It is important to live each day and every mindful moment to be greeting anew. When you manage to greet anew every moment with each other and yourself, you set up the possibility of living your life in constant awe and amazement. I feel it is the way of human beings to automatically scrutinise and put things into boxes in our mind. It is more than that. It is so split second and automatic, that to avoid living life in a humdrum way, you have to make an ongoing mammoth effort to break every mould and do it differently. And how wonderful and more freeing would it be to live in this way? Can you feel it?

Life changes to be wondrous and you can get back the spring in your step and feeling optimistic and hopeful. Summing up on this point, we can so easily get stuck in a rut, living in the illusion that we have created. We can have fixed opinions and expectations of others and even all of life, according to how things were done before. It is easy to do something once or twice and then it becomes a habit, the norm. My heartfelt suggestion is to live each day fully and fresh, with zest and wonder, greeting each day and every moment anew. You will feel more inspiration from spirit or whatever that words means to you. I reckon that otherwise if we live like an automaton, we miss various hints and impressions sent our way that would make our lives better and more to our real liking.

Attending our laughter club or another laughter club will certainly assist you to live with more awareness, mindfulness, spontaneity and help keep you enjoying life. Enjoying and joy. That’s like being personally in the moment and feeling joy, the joyfulness of a child who is still young and free in their expression. Most will agree, we need more laughter, hope and joy in our lives.

It is Seniors Festival month. We are thankful to both the Knox City Council who support and help promote our free community Ferntree Gully Laughter Club and to the Studfield Wantirna Community News (SWN) who help raise awareness of what we do. Like a seed that takes its time to germinate, people read and hear about us and sometimes appear unexpectedly.

We will make a point on the 8th October to incorporate some laughs about milestones and anniversaries, attributing some to the 50th edition of the SWN. You will have first-hand experience of how we experience joy through laughing, which develops into rich spontaneous and often memorable laughter moments, rather like improv theatre, if you are familiar with that, then you will enjoy it.

Do come along and phone first to make your acquaintance, you will be glad that you did! Cheerio for now.

Love and Laughter, Lynette xo

Disclaimer: Information shared here is from my personal understanding and experience. Advice given is general and as I am not a medical doctor, take no responsibility for how it is received, my intention is that articles will be supportive and assist in living a fuller, holistic life.

Anniversaries Provide Us With A Time For Introspection

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Sunday 3rd August was my 28th Wedding Anniversary. I felt myself drawn to write about our lives together and feel that anniversaries are a good time to do that, whether it is a wedding anniversary or birthday or other, say counting the years in a job. And so I found myself spontaneously journaling without another’s suggestion, recalling others who have done similar things, writing about and marking a time in their personal history. Read more here.