Crack Yourself Up!

I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out my nose. ~Woody Allen

That's me...the girl trying to hold her milk! I remember when I was little sitting for dinner at my Grandma Pancake's house, the table was nicely set, there may have even been candles... Anyway, something made me laugh and I shot milk clear across the table! I felt horrible at the time, but now I can laugh about it. I'm still trying to keep the liquid in place, as now I have a family that has a way with making me laugh, if I'm not already laughing at myself! I crack myself up all the time! Not purposely, I just do silly scatter-brained things that make me laugh. Then I share them with you know who so he will know what I've done and I laugh even harder! It's always good to share in the humor.

Laughing feels so good even if it is at yourself. It even feels good to laugh for no reason at all, but for your health. I came across an article a while back about Laughter Yoga and it intrigued me. The body, according to scientific study, can not tell the difference between real or fake laughter! Laughter Yoga combines unconditional laughter with yogic breathing. Try it...Oh-Oh-Ah-Ah-Ha-Ha-He-He over and over until you start laughing, you can make funny faces at yourself in the mirror if it helps! Betcha, you're laughing already! This soon turns into real laughter and be careful, it is contagious!

When people are laughing, they're generally not killing each other. ~Alan Alda

Laughter Yoga can be a life changing experience bringing about new energy, happiness, and health. A sense of well being is achieved that helps people cope with the stress of everyday life. Science has proven that laughter, by releasing serotonin into the brain, lowers the level of stress hormones (like cortisol) in the blood which may also help with weight loss. You do actually burn calories while laughing but not enough to lose weight. Overall it's a great antidepressant. Laughter has an incredible impact on the immune system and can influence the course of survival for cancer patients. It has been implemented in many cancer hospitals.

Around the world people enjoy the benefits of laughter. You can even join a Laughter Yoga club! There are over 6000 in 60 countries! But you don't need a club and I'm not promoting Laughter Yoga, but just saying 'downward dog' does make me laugh! I am hoping you will just take the time to laugh. Even if you have to fake it. Oh-Oh-Ah-Ah-Ha-Ha-He-He!!!

The most wasted of days is one without laughter. ~E.E. Cummings

~K

Valentines Day Size Heart

Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart. ~Winnie the Pooh

At the grocery store I witnessed a woman buy the groceries for the man behind her in line. At first I thought she knew him as she said it was a Valentine gift from her. Then she said it was actually from Him, and she pointed up. I don't know what prompted her to do this kindness, but as he reached for his bags I noticed his hands didn't work very well. He was a quiet man, but expressed his gratitude and walked out the door. She had smiled at him just like a friend would and said, 'see you later'!

After she left the cashier told me of another woman who buys groceries for someone on her birthday every year. She came through her line and bought the groceries for the woman behind her, who happened to have 2 full carts! What a way to celebrate your birthday! What a wonderful way to celebrate Valentines' Day!

Happy Valentines' Day!

I am so excited/scared I think I'm gonna die!!! (-screamed just like Agnes in Despicable Me)

I have made the decision to commit myself to a blog. Maybe I should just 'commit' myself for thinking this is a great idea, but the idea here is to think positively. Peter Pan says you can fly if you think a happy thought and of course 'pixie dust'. But that's the magic that occurs when we do carry happiness in our hearts- we fly.

I had my first big epiphany yesterday, while standing in a long line...a Christmas time type of long line at the post office. I frequent the PO almost daily and the line this week has been out the door. It gives you time to think and if you're like me, time to people watch.

As I walked in I was immediately engaged watching an elderly man with full arms thanking another man a couple places up from me. He stepped out of line to package items, a prescription to send back to a friend. Meanwhile a new mother of beautiful twin boys started making her way back through to the end of line with her double stroller after going to the other side of the room, with double stroller, to get an envelope. As she passed the older folks in front of me all wanted to see the new little guys. I even took a looksy at the sweet faces so fresh from heaven. I momentarily thought about how we all long to be closer to God and babies bring us just about as close as we can get. Our spirits gravitate to theirs. As she passed she was saying to the boys, 'Mommy needs a pen'. I was admiring her for unloading both babies in car seats, attaching them to the large stroller and making her way bravely into the busy PO to stand in this awful long line. I stood there thinking I should offer her my pen (I have a purse full!), but I'm still quite shy. I had to talk myself into it, then it was like forever to finally produce a pen, but she was a few people back from me so I left my totes full of  packages and asked her if she wanted to borrow my pen. I took my place back in line and felt good about helping another mama that had her hands full. Silly that such a tiny effort made me happy. Oh, and I wasn't the last person to offer her a pen. :)

One of the clerks called out a mans name, he had forgotten his credit card...then the clerk joked about buying tools with it. I watched the older man after packaging his box get back in line with the other man and how grateful he was to be let back into line, he thanked him over and again. 

It was like magic in that line yesterday, unlike Christmas when the hustle is powered by such an urgency to get everything done that we are short with others. It should be like this at Christmas time. People were chatting, the clerks joking, babies starting to cry, but their mama just talked sweetly to them. The dreaded postal line at least for yesterday gave us all a chance to connect. My faith in humanity a bit restored -my heart a bit fuller. Sounds silly to have felt this way over such small things...guess you had to be there. And I hope that if you are soon, in one of these forever long lines, that you too can see the silverlined opportunity that you've been given.