Today we have a bonus post from my wonderful friend Annie. We were discussing our deep need for laughter, humor, and playfulness especially after two years of pandemic and with an ongoing war. Our talk inspired her to write the lovely prose poem below. When I asked if I could share it in my newsletter, she agreed! It is truly my honor to share her words with you. Enjoy!
"Laughter Hurts" by Annie
Have you ever laughed so hard that it hurt?
To the point where your stomach felt like you did ab exercises for an hour straight?
Your sides ached and your gut convulsed?
Have you ever laughed so hard that you cried?
Real honest-to-goodness weepies?
Have you ever felt your eyes sting with delight as tears streamed down your face, seemingly uncontrollably?
Have you ever laughed so hard you couldn’t breathe?
Like everything from your neck down just stopped functioning?
Like someone put a brick in your belly and held it there?
And you desperately stole small sips of air, trying to survive?
Have you ever laughed so hard that every muscle in your body ached, you bit your tongue, you almost choked, you spit out a bit of the chocolate-iced donut you snacked on for breakfast, had Coke run out your nose? You wet your pants (just a little), drooled, fell to the floor on your knees, praying for the laughter to stop? Trying with all your might to focus on something sad?
There’s nothing better, nothing more energizing, nothing more fulfilling…nothing more cleansing, nothing more invigorating, nothing more powerful, nothing more connecting, nothing more exhausting, nothing more downright satisfying, nothing more painful…than a laugh.
As I read Annie’s words I thought about some of the very best laughs of my life. It brought to mind some of the people I love and have loved most. I smiled as I thought about my sister and I giggling in the back of the car, my dad trying to get us to stop giggling which just made us giggle more. I thought about my nephew giggling when he was little, the sweetest laugh that made me laugh every time. What a gift to feel those memories come alive!
What memories came to mind as you were reading this? Please share them with us in the comments!
In their book, “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle”, Emily and Amelia Nagoski tell us that, “deep, impolite, belly laughter” is one of the ways to complete the stress cycle and move stress out of our body. We biologically evolved in a way that laughter is literally healthy for us!
Wishing everyone, everywhere some joy and laughter even in difficult times.
I once heard laughter is the best medicine. I think we all need one of those belly laughs. One time my girlfriend and I were in a giddy mood. We went in a hallmark store and while reading some funny birthday cards we were laughing so hard tears were streaming down our faces. People were staring at us like we were crazy. Some people laughed with us. When we got back into the car we found that our makeup had run down our faces like war paint. I now know what the people were laughing at. LOL
This orchid picture reminds me of O'Keeffe's flower paintings. So gorgeous :)