Are You Clowning Around? Why Not?

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"I learned that twenty minutes of belly-aching laughter provides the same endorphin rush that a full day supply of morphine provides. If I could laugh, I could cope. And if I could cope, I could heal. So I made it my mission to laugh every single day. Every person that came to see me was required to make me laugh. Even the failed attempts struck me as funny." – Theo Androus

I recently heard these words while listening to a CD entitled The Unbreakable Human Spirit (part of Winning Strategies). Mr. Androus discussed how laughter therapy contributed to his remarkable recovery. You can read about Theo Androus’ story at http://www.gotheo.com/keynote.htm.

Laughter therapy is powerful. No one knows that better than Becky Cortino.

Becky leads an online class called Healing Humor: Live Happy – Be Healthy! In this class she teaches us how humor can be a tremendous benefit in our lives.

She also has her own online radio show called A Heart 4 Clowning. This was exciting. I learned that Becky leads a hospital/caring clown creative arts ministry in North Carolina.

When I was a cub scout leader, I had fun wearing costumes to entertain the scouts and parents while at the same time embarrassing my son. How cool would it be to dress up like a clown to help others who needed humor the most?

Becky told me about FRMC Charlie’s Chaplains’ Skool ’08 "U-Otta-B-n-Pictures U". I will be traveling to North Carolina in September to get my first training as a caring clown. Maybe I will see you there!

But we don’t have to be dressed up as a clown to encourage someone with humor and laughter. Who are you going to share a laugh with today? It will not only help the person you are with, but it will also brighten your day as well.