Several years ago, I began having difficulty with my vocal cords (polyps), which caused my giggle to become a bit hoarse and high pitched. I did not like the change. However, when my friends and colleagues would hear me giggle, they often said how much they liked it. I would thank them and quickly diminish their compliment by stating how much I didn’t like it. Until one of my dear friends suggested I receive the compliment without belittling myself. Thank goodness for her directness. I took her advice, and even though I thought it for a while, I stopped saying I disliked my laugh. And you know, when I let go of making it wrong, I began to accept it as a part of myself. Today, I actually think it’s a pretty special part of my self expression.
Tonight, as Kelli and I were in the car on the way to a friend’s house for a meeting, the two of us got to laughing, and couldn’t stop. Of course now, I couldn’t tell you what we thought was so funny, but it felt good to laugh. In times that are difficult for so many people, there is often an underlying tension that is palpable. I find myself being drawn into the depth, heaviness and seriousness of our world, and sometimes, I forget to laugh.
For this Peace Walker, laughter is often a way to release the emotions I’m feeling that don’t seem to ease otherwise. I have heard that it takes the same muscles to laugh as it does to cry, which may or my not be accurate, but I do know that a good belly laugh can be profoundly healing.
The year before I began my walk, I lived with my sister (Emily) and brother-in-law (Anders), and there were times when we would get to laughing, where the more one of us laughed, the more all of us laughed. It was absolutely wonderful for me, as I think it was for them.
Who do you know that you love to hear laugh? Is there someone in your life that you know you can be super serious with AND laugh hysterically with? When was the last time you leaned your head back and laughed from your belly? Go on, I dare you…