THE SOUL NEEDS LAUGHTER

 

 

"What makes us human is not our mind but our heart.  Not our ability to think, but our ability to love." ~ Henri Nouwen

 

To this I want to add 'Our ability to laugh."

 

 

 

Our lives are so full, mostly of ourselves, there is little room for anything else! 

 

We forget the value of laughter, of love, of touch, of relationships, friendships, and necessities that often go overlooked.

 

I am a great observer of people.  Not just sitting in airports watching the crowds, but I love to watch what astounds and delights people everywhere.  This tells me everything I need to know about human nature. 

 

It might be educational and interesting to select one day and wherever you go watch people, observe closely.  How many do you see that are truly happy?  How many are astonished and delighted and light up a room?  How many hide behind their cell phone, rudely ignoring you and all around them as if you did not exist and the phone call is more important than are you?  What do their facial expressions tell  you about them? How many people smile at complete strangers or engage a checker at the super store in a conversation, or compliment a stranger on their clothes or their hair? How many are truly involved in their surroundings and all it might entail? How many are truly, viscerally alive?

 

To me there is a distinct absence of people actually reaching out and finding much of anything beyond themselves.  This is especially true when it seems you need them the most.  The worst insult you can hurl at people to is forget or ignore their pain .

 

When we are melted down to our core and are completely exposed, our thoughts and feelings are vulnerable.  And it is quite simply painful. To have that ignored takes away our spirit, our self worth, our dignity, and saps the life out of us. It quite simply makes a sad situation worse, sadder. 

 

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance! We should grasp all the joy we can and break the rules, laugh uncontrollably and never forget anything that made us smile. 

 

Ever tell a friend, spouse or child...."No not today, we'll do it tomorrow." Do you see their sorrow?When you hurry and worry through your day, it is like an unopened gift.  Thrown away.  Life is not a race.  Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

 

Do something you WANT TO DO, not something YOU SHOULD DO.

 

When you ask "How are you?" Do you hear the reply? Do you care?

 

The soul needs laughter and the soul needs nourishment.