We have been living through a very challenging emergency the last several months. It’s been a health crisis that has left many people in both physical and emotional despair. We’ve all heard the expression, “This is not a laughing matter.”
That statement usually indicates that there’s a problem. We all know that serious events and emergencies occur from time to time. We’re seeing that right now, aren’t we? Emergencies need to be handled accordingly. Serious circumstances call for serious responses. How about when there are not serious circumstances? Some people still behave in a “This is not a laughing matter” mode. Don’t we all know people who go through life this way? They seem to be in a crisis all the time - no matter what is going on in their lives. They’ve got it all wrong. They’re missing the joy in life. They should be smiling, laughing, and having more fun…Even now. Maybe especially now! We need the ability to find more laughter in our lives.
Wouldn’t we all like to have more fun in our lives? Don’t we all want to be in a better mood more often? HELLO!? We need to laugh! Let’s have some good old fashion out loud laughing fun! Life and work should be fun. It should be something that we look forward to. Under normal circumstances, we usually spend more time at work than anywhere else. As many of us are getting ready to go back to work, we need it to be enjoyable (even during these challenging times)!
Okay Mr. Sunshine, where are you going with this? ...Here’s where: I’m going to touch on virtually everyone’s universal goal. What does everyone want out of life? If you had to sum it up in one word, what would it be? Answer: We all want happiness. Ta da! It’s the universal want. We want to be happy. Fun and happy people tend to be more productive in both their work and home life. There is something magical about being happy and industrious at the same time. Those two words nourish each other. Thomas Jefferson along with our other founding fathers had the profound insight to include “happy” in the Declaration of Independence: We have the right to, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” How about that!
Here’s a Litmus Test: How can you tell if a relationship is in good shape? American motivational public speaker and self-development author Brian Tracy said, “Whether it’s a business or personal relationship, you can tell if a relationship is healthy by the presence of laughter. It’s present in virtually every healthy relationship.”
The reverse of that is also true. The lack of laughter in the workplace or at home usually indicates some problems. Laughter really is the best medicine. It always makes us feel better!
“The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.” – Mark Twain
Yours in Rotary,
Tony Parziale