Laughter is a funny thing…
When you feel like laughing there’s
nothing that’s more enjoyable than a hearty chuckle. But when you’re in a bad
mood, well, who wants to laugh? Certain topics are just not amusing.
It’s the
same with a lot of things, I’m finding. For instance, it’s easy to be calm, optimistic,
and not worry when everything is going along just fine in your life. But the question is, can you be calm, confidant,
and trust that all will be well when your world seems to be falling apart? Can you maintain your equanimity when it
seems like all the news items in your personal headlines are bad?
Most people
see me these days as a calm, centered person. But it’s so easy to fall off the
wagon. All it takes is an ominous phone call from one of my kids, or a cryptic
text message suggesting that all may not be well in their universe to sending me
spinning crazily out of my own orderly cosmos.
I’ve decided the real test isn’t
whether you can approach life with laughter and joy in your heart, but whether
you can laugh when you feel like crying or be calm when you feel like screaming
with anger or frustration. Can you laugh when everything seems sad? Can you
find the gratitude and peace in even the most difficult moments?
A dear
friend recently gave me the garden stone pictured above. I placed it next to my
front doorstep, which may be why I have laughter on my mind a lot lately. It
always makes me smile when things are going swimmingly, of course. And, when I come dragging home after some sort of
unpleasant incident or outing, the stone reminds me that no matter what, the
sun always comes up in the morning.
They say that laughter is the best
medicine. Have you taken your medicine today?
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