Did you make it through April Fool’s Day without being fooled? Ha! I hope not!
I say this not because I want you to be pranked in front of your friends, family, or co-workers, but simply because I want you to laugh more.
Years ago, I spent time meditating with one of Charlotte’s finest Gurus. (Some of you may know him.) Let me tell you, this is a man who teaches, preaches and exemplifies the benefits of laughter in our lives.
His special practice reminds you that laughter is the best medicine for stress relief, improved communication skills, team building, and increased productivity. And Catherine Ripplinger Fenwick, author of Healing With Humor, tells us that “Your body cannot heal without play. Your mind cannot heal without laughter. Your soul cannot heal without joy.”
Gratefully, I hear laughter all day at The Ivey. Our staff making our members laugh; our members making our staff laugh; and our members making each other laugh. Even (and especially) in the face of challenges, laughter must be a key component for everyone involved in the dementia journey.
As is often the case, I learn great lessons from The Ivey’s members. I take “life cues” from them. Being around such mirth during the day is a great reminder to stay open and alert to the humor all around me, at all times. Because these are all gifts – all opportunities to heal ourselves.
Just this past weekend, I was hopping around my car radio dial and landed on a hilarious episode of NPR’s Car Talk. Of course, I knew it was a rerun, as co-host Tom Magliozzi died recently of complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. He was 77. But as I laughed along with them, I realized what a gift it is that the many years of episodes recorded by brothers Tom and Ray (AKA, Click and Clack) will continue to be re-broadcast for our listening pleasure. (Hopefully, if we’re really lucky, for many years to come…remaining with us as key comedic players in our own daily healing.)
So as April Fool’s Day 2015 comes to a close, let’s take the sage advice of others who are wise, and laugh our way to a healthy mind and a healthy body. It will keep us energized and grateful along life’s journey.
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