Laughter Could Save Your Life

-by Matt Leedham

Last year, Jaime wrote about the power of positivity on your health. She shared the story of her grandfather who at the time was fighting cancer. While Grandpa Willis courageously battled, Jaime discovered some research proving that optimism can save your life.

On Friday, I was reminded of this. In the morning, I had the great opportunity to speak to Deloitte Consulting in Virginia on the topic of Stress Management. I stressed (no pun inteneded) the importance of choice management and specifically, choosing new thoughts in a high-stress environment.

After the workshop, I rushed home to meet 3 friends as we had planned a one-night excursion to Atlantic City. I hadn’t packed yet, and was feeling a little pressure – you might even say I was feeling stressed.

But as soon as we hopped in the car, there was laughter. Whether we were recounting funny stories of the past week, or simply ripping on each other like guys do, I found myself laughing. I noticed how much better I felt immediately.

Our primary purpose for going to Atlantic City was to see Bill Burr. Bill was on the Chappelle Show and has hosted his own HBO special. He’s hilarious – probably my favorite comedian right now. After an hour with Bill on the stage, I was in a great mood!

On the ride home, I thought, there has to be something to this laughter thing, right? I mean, I was always told that “laughter is the best medicine.”

As it turns out, laughter helps you oxygenate the cells in your body, resulting in lower blood pressure, reducing pain levels, and even helping your cholesterol. According to research, you’re actually changing your brain chemistry to feel better, and are halting the production of chemicals that make you feel anxious and tense.

And the crazy thing is, you don’t have to laugh spontaneously. It actually works the same even if you fake it. Seriously!

Check out this new phenomenon that’s catching on around the globe. It’s called Laughter Yoga (or Laughter Therapy). Laughter Clubs are popping up all over the place. Do they work? I’m not sure, but after watching a few videos on YouTube, I feel fantastic!

What do you think? Is laughter something that helps you reduce stress? Ever try to be intentional with your laughter to live more stress free?

P.S. Grandpa Willis has since left us, but his spirit lives on with all who remember his positive impact.

It's Never Too Late!

-By Jaime Willis

"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."  ~Thomas Paine

Happy Memorial Day to all of us in the United States and Happy Monday to the rest of the world.  If you are or were a member of the military, thank you so much for your service!  We appreciate you! 

John's Flag
1954-55
by Jasper Johns
Encaustic, oil, and collage on fabric, mounted on plywood
The Museum of Modern Art, New York

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Sometimes, we let THOUGHTS get in the way of our dreams -- can you believe that?  Sometimes, there is no hulking bouncer telling you that you can't go past "here" and no physical illness or injury standing in our way.  Sometimes, it is just our way of thinking that causes us to stumble.

I'd like to present you with three people who didn't let their thoughts get in the way.

Gpa's Upright Base

First, is my Grandpa.  As you may have already read, "Gpa" passed away earlier this month.  My family is still mourning his loss and celebrating his life as we talk to each other.  One really cool memory I get to keep of Gpa's life, though, is the fact that he took up playing the upright bass in his retirement.  Apparently, Gpa had played instruments in high school and really enjoyed music, but by the time he had grandkids, this part of his life was long past -- I didn't even know about his love of music.  Until.  

One day, Gpa comes home with this HUGE package.  He'd bought himself an upright bass.  While he and Gma were in Florida that winter, he set up the bass in the garage, took lessons and practiced regularly. Although Gpa never went on tour or even held a concert, he got such joy out of learning how to play the bass.  He didn't think that he was too old to learn, or that his hands may not have been spry enough to master the strings and chords.  He just went ahead and did it.  What a wonder memory and lesson to pass on to his whole family!

Courtesy of Ernestineshepherd.net

Second, I'd like to introduce you to Ernestine Shepherd.  Ernestine woke up twenty years ago, at the age of 54, and she was just sick.  Overweight, depressed, high blood pressure, panic attacks, and acid reflux.  If there was a part of her body that was healthy, she couldn't feel it.  That day, she and her sister, Mildred, were trying on swimsuits.  Like many women, it was a pretty depressing event.  Something in her snapped that day and she vowed to get her health on track.  

Twenty years later, the 5'3" Ernestine wakes up each more and runs 10 miles, before hitting the gym for pushups, pull-ups, and other strength training exercises -- to the amazement of her 80 year old husband, 53 year old son, and 14 year old grandson.  Ernestine is the Guinness World Record holder for the oldest female body builder.  And she looks AMAZING.  She didn't let thoughts about her age or her mobility or her previous health issues get in her way!

Third, maybe it's time for you to think like a little kid.  Six-year-old Isaac began learning to play the piano recently, and his Dad bought him a manuscript book (think of it like a music book, without the notes, so someone can write in their own music) on a whim, thinking it would be a while before he used it.  

Hattip: Reddit.com

The thing is, nobody told Isaac he was "too young" to write music.  So he decided to write a song.  He called it "Snakes Away."  Being a proud but not musically gifted, his father crowd-sourced the song to the internet, and musicians responded.  There are now several versions and remixes of "Snakes Away" for everyone to share in.  When Isaac woke up the next morning and his dad played him his song, Isaac was ecstatic. "[He] is dancing around like a madman!" said his father.  

You can listen to some of my favorite versions of his song here and here. 

As you start your week this week, take a moment to pause and think if you are letting any of your limiting THOUGHTS get in the way of your own dreams.  What would it feel like to let go of that thought and try for your dream?

Believe it - Achieve it!

Down Time

-by Jaime Willis

The time to relax is when you don't have time for it.

As regular readers, friends, and family know, my Grandfather passed away last week. I have spent the last seven days in Michigan both mourning and celebrating my Grandpa's life. Please accept my sincere thanks and gratitude for all of the assistance and support you have given me over the last week -- I truly appreciated every comment, email, text, and check in phone call. Special thanks go to my Velocity partner, Matt, for holding down the fort online and 'in real life' while I was gone.

As I packed my bags yesterday and began the trek home -- car to plane to bus to metro to bus -- my stress level started to rise thinking of all of the projects waiting for me at home.

• The 10K's I need to make up running over the next few weeks.
• The triathlon training I need to begin (again) in earnest.
• The laundry and housework I left behind.
• The meetings I need to attend.
• The critical projects I need to finish.
• The classwork that needs to get done.
• The phone calls that need answering.
• The emails that need answering.
• The travel plans I have to make for a trip this weekend.

Photo by Sasha Wolff

So much work that needs to get done and so little time to do it. I know we've all felt the same coming back from any time off of work -- from vacation, from illness, from a death in the family. We feel guilty for being behind right out of the gate, we feel panicked from the sheer load of work, we feel an obligation to Get Things Done.

What if we simply allowed ourselves to breathe a bit? What if we chose not to get stressed about re-entering our lives and know that what needs to get done will get done? What if we stopped feeling guilty for taking time for ourselves?

As I flew home last night, I started to make lists in my head of all the work that needed to be done and all the errands that needed to be run. I would hit the ground running as soon as I keyed into my apartment and go - go - go. But just the idea of working on projects at 9pm at night sounded terrible and stressful. Instead, I spent the evening snuggling with my cats and catching up with my friends.

And this morning, I feel GREAT about that decision.

I know that there are a lot of tasks on my plate and I know that I'll get them done. I am choosing to feel good about my down time, not guilty. I am choosing to accept that I am not a robot and need time to transition back into my daily routine -- and that is OK.

Feeling guilty or stressed about my workload does nothing to help me get stuff done, so why bother with the negativity? Why not feel great about the way I've chosen to schedule my life? I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to spend a week at home with family. I wouldn't have traded last week for any check on my to-do list. When I think of my time off that way, I am totally content with my schedule and choices.

I wonder how you would feel if you chose to be grateful instead of guilty, at peace instead of stressed? Try it and see!