You will all agree that our lives have been radically rearranged since the advent of fears and restrictions due to COVID-19. The virus brought with it many ongoing challenges, heartbreak, both personal and professional. We have been stretched beyond our limits, making it harder for many to stay positive physically, emotionally and mentally.
Simultaneously, many individuals, businesses and organisations are thriving as they can rise to the challenge, reinventing themselves. People often share having a deeper appreciation of things that were taken for granted. There has been a bonding of relationships and ties, people finding new ways to reach out, stay connected and value each other more. The garden industry is thriving, as the public have the time and inclination to be outside, tidying, pruning, replanting, growing vegetables and feeling a stronger connection with nature. Many express gratitude for the shutdown, staying at home has provided time for things that were left until they ‘got around to it’. Despite the difficulties there are blessings when we re-jig the way we have lived our lives, and we take stock of our life’s journey.
This has been the case with Laughter Clubs and those providing Laughter Yoga sessions professionally, new methods to do so. We have gone online using Facebook Live and Zoom meetings so that we can laugh together. They provided us with ways to continue, rather than go into hibernation. Now we embrace people who join us from all around the world, as we also join with laughter clubs in other countries. The laughter community is growing, resilient, connected and letting go of the stress that is so prevalent due to the virus.
We open our hearts in joy as we laugh, as laughter truly is the best medicine. This we choose to do as an aerobic activity, because the body does not know the difference with real and pretend laughter. Laughter releases endorphins, the feel-good hormones oxytocin and serotonin into the blood stream. It also strengthens the immune system, supports the heart and has many other health benefits which help sustain us to be in optimum health, as far as is possible.
I now share some personal feelings about the virus, that it is nature at work rebalancing the earth, which has been way out of balance in many, many ways. Are we doing our best to see the bigger picture and remain positive about future directions? It reminds me of something which if we could emulate, may benefit our lives in the long term.
I read about how a minority of ex-prisoners of war (POW’s) were able to survive the experience and maintain a state of emotional stability, love and internal peace. On the other hand, many returning POW’s were permanently scarred, psychologically or physically.
However, in this minority of people, who one could imagine, had their own strong support belief system in place, these people came back with more ability to embrace life once more. The horrendous ordeal had not broken their spirits, they had never given up hope, returning from the war to go on and become successful in their work and family lives. It is possible that their experiences added a quality of richness as to how they perceived the world, their life, their wartime struggles and their outlook overall.
Might I suggest that we are all in this time together and each day make it a priority to maintain positivity above all else? Especially too because when we live in fear, our immune system is compromised. Laughter as I have often shared, strengthens the immune system, even fake laughter! Let’s go, have a laugh, a giggle now, to yourself or out loud with others. Thank you.
We would love you to join with us in this laughter journey in a virtual way. At this stage we plan to stay online after the restrictions ease and when permitted, we will meet outside in the park again, although less often. We envisage this as being monthly and we plan to continue being online. This will give you the ability to stay at home and experience laughter clubs, as if you were in person. It does work and you will enjoy the laughter sessions, as we do by running them.
Until next time, laughter blessings. Do contact me with any questions you may have about the Zoom invitation or how to connect with our Facebook Live Saturday sessions.
See you soon?
Love and Laughter, Lynette and John. Virtual hugs.