Laugh More

If you were to drop into one of our family gatherings with my seven siblings, you would hear a lot of laughter. At the heart of it all would be our brother Dave. His lightheartedness and humor is so infectious that it draws people like a magnet; his wife teasingly refers to his informal fan club as “Dave’s pack.” It’s a gift he inherited from Dad, who was still doing cartwheels when he tumbled right into heaven.

Maybe that’s why I feel most at home in the company of lighthearted folks, people who fundamentally operate from their heart. My closest friends regularly indulge in song, dance and play. They purposely attune their emotional antennas to receive the blessings hidden in the most challenging circumstances, turning obstacles into opportunities for growth and the chance to giggle at themselves. This heart-centeredness flows into all they do.

Is there a connection between joyful laughter and an open heart? The Dalai Lama always seems to have a big smile on his face and it can’t be because his life circumstances have been easy, given how his people were driven out of Tibet. I’ve noticed that even though enlightened individuals often endure tough times, they keep a smile in their heart.

So many people today have suffered the loss of their home, job, savings or other means of support that have provided a sense of security and even defined who they are. In addition to economic troubles, we continue to experience unforeseen environmental disasters, Haiti being the latest example. Maybe the human race is having its heart broken open so that something new can emerge. On many fronts we are being forced to decide what really matters, maybe that’s a good thing.

I wonder what would happen if everyone in the world agreed to stop whatever they were doing for an hour and simply laugh. Laugh at the silly ways we’ve created to keep us separate; laugh at the ridiculous things we’re doing that don’t work. Mostly just laugh for no reason at all because joy is our natural state of being—it’s what connects us with the Divine. Perhaps the whole world would shift and our experience of life would never be the same.

Throughout this month’s special Laugh More issue you’ll find plenty of opportunities to stretch your boundaries to embrace a more authentic, joyful life. From jumpstarting your laugh-o-meter at a Laughter Yoga class to singing along with your kids and hula hooping with Leandra Harrison, we serve up fun ways to connect with others in lighthearted ways. 

Researchers recently discovered that a rich network of emotional connections is the number one reason people are happy—more than money, job satisfaction or marital status. The simple fact is that we need each other. Given that Valentine’s Day is the celebrated “heart” of this month, I hope that you’ll find new and delicious ways to connect, laugh and open yourself to love.       

Lightheartedly, 

Sharon