Category Archives: All 3
Ten Reasons Why Laughing is Good for You
Rave:
Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t stop laughing! I did fall a few weeks ago. Don’t worry, it was a ‘controlled fall’. I’m taking what I thought was a gentle yoga class from Erin, who doesn’t have the same definition of ‘gentle yoga’ as I do. “I think you guys are ready to try a headstand,” she says. “Right, like that’s going to happen,” I hear myself saying. “Just try it. Any part of it will do.” She made it look so easy that all of us attempted it. I got one leg up then Erin stood behind me, grabbed my other leg and up I went. Of course the minute she let go I fell and immediately started laughing. It was a visceral response. I felt so unencumbered. I was eager to try the headstand this week, looking forward more to the laughing then accomplishing the pose.
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.” George Bernard Shaw
I had forgotten the joy of playing in the front yard, doing a cartwheel, a somersault or a headstand, landing head over heels and laughing from the freedom of it all.
Rant:
I’m not proposing that you do cartwheels, headstands or somersaults; however, ‘any part of that will do.’ Just laugh! Out loud big laughs or inside giggles. It doesn’t matter. Laugh. Often.
Laughter:
- is freedom
- is living
- is contagious
- is intriguing
- is connection
- is sensual
- creates vitality
- makes you high
- breaks down barriers
- is fun
Attitude:
As Mom and I were talking over pancakes at her favorite breakfast restaurant, a man, woman and a 8 or 9-year-old boy walked past us on their way out. “Hi little boy,” Mom said as she waves at him. I realize as I re-adjust my focus, I am no longer looking at my Mom, but at an 8 or 9-year-old little girl on the playground of her elementary school, reaching out to make a new friend. The couple, the boy and I were taken back a bit. Their car was parked in front of the picture window where we were sitting. As I watch, the boy lets go of his Mom’s hand, walks up to the window and plants his face against the glass right in front of Mom. He starts making funny faces at her. He crosses his eyes, sticks his tongue out, takes two fingers and pulls the corners of his mouth down and Mom does it right back to him. Then he runs back to the car and they drive away. We laughed ’til we cried, right there, in front of the whole restaurant. I notice as I look around, people were laughing with us even though they didn’t have a clue what had happened. The laughter was contagious. It had a residual effect that lasted the entire day. Priceless.
We grew up with laughter. Mom laughs and plays a lot. That 8 year-old little girl that sat across from me at the restaurant has never left Mom. No matter what has happened in her life, and she’s been through a lot, she has never forgotten the laughter playing on her own front lawn brought her. We shouldn’t either!
Sister Linda and Mom
Originally posted 2014-02-21 16:22:17.
Aging: Words of Wisdom from the Last Woman Standing
The smile you can see a mile away
Rant:
Aging: Words of wisdom from the last woman standing…
Yep, that’s my 98-year-old Mom. As of two weeks ago, she lost her last friend. All of her family is gone too. Just writing the above sentences makes me want to breathe in a bag! My way of saying that my heart is beating faster and I can feel myself begin to hyperventilate. How does she stay positive and upbeat? She wears a smile you can see a mile away. What has she learned that has helped her navigate this not so great part of the aging process?
Rave:
Aging: Words of wisdom from the last woman standing…
I have asked Mom how she deals with loss and dramatic changes. First of all, she says, she learned a long time ago that nothing stays the same and has embraced that idea wholeheartedly. I can relate. “Nothing stays the same” has become my mantra of late. Secondly, Mom does have Linda and me, and many of you have children that you hope will take care of you until the end of your life. According to Mom, don’t count on it. It’s a harsh reality that some kids don’t take care of their parents or find it difficult because their lives are full.
Mom says, she “has always felt loved” and because of that, she can love, not only others but herself. Consequently, she is perfectly fine with her own company. And therein lies the key for me. I have struggled with self-love my whole life. Realizing Mom’s scenario may be mine someday, I’m inspired by her to finally let that struggle go.
Attitude:
Aging: Words of wisdom from the last woman standing…
What can we learn from this 98-year-old who has lost family, a daughter and all of her friends? Lots.
Mom’s self-love playbook:
Move on
Mom is not a saint! She does get sad. She does cry. I have cried with her and I have held her while she’s cried. However, she does not dwell there. We usually end up laughing and she moves on.
Gratitude
Every day Mom says out loud, “Thank you for my life.”
Curiosity
She asks people questions about their lives and really listens to their answers. She stays engaged.
Take care of yourself
Mom walks every day, 3 times around her parking lot holding on to her walker, 3 times a day! It’s a mile total.
She eats 1/2 of what is on her plate.
She dresses casually but beautifully every day.
She wears a big smile.
Self-talk
“Hi, Mom”, I say when I call. “How are you?” “WONDERFUL” is always her first response. My sister Linda and I call ‘wonderful’ a mantra.
Her other mantra is, “I have to see people.” (She has an aide that is with her 6 days a week for 5 hours per day who drives her to her favorite restaurant daily for breakfast. I tell her she’s like Norm on the sitcom Cheers. “Everybody knows her name!”)
Laughs often
Mom giggles at things she says. She said to me, “If you’re coming to visit an old lady, she doesn’t live here anymore!” and bursts out laughing.
I hope we are surrounded by love until age 110! May we find love from others but most importantly, may we create our own self-love playbooks and by doing so, inspire others to do the same.
Originally posted 2018-08-04 18:02:12.