May-June-issue

INSPIRATION
It is a beautiful thing
Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress,
pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or
more dependably to bring your mind and
body back into balance than a good laugh.
Humor lightens your burdens, inspires
hopes, connects you to others, and keeps
you grounded, focused, and alert. It also
helps you to release anger and be more
forgiving.
With so much power to heal and
renew, the ability to laugh easily and
frequently is
a tremendous
resource for
surmounting
problems,
enhancing your
relationships,
and supporting
both physical
and emotional
health. Best of
all, this priceless
medicine is fun,
free, and easy to
use. (helpguide.
org)
As a builder,
Bertrand was
accustomed
to urgent calls
demanding
immediate
attention. So
when he received
a pressing plea to
build a stall for
an international
trade fair, he
was more
than prepared
to start work
straightaway.
Besides, he had
Laughter
actually eases
conflict, creates
rapport, and
permits you to
take yourself
lightly. Even
among our
politicians,
families,
associates
and friends,
there are a
good number
who laugh to
ease difficult
situations.
experienced a
dry spell and
was up to this
point, not sure
how he was
going to meet
his end month
commitments
when they fell due. The job he had been
called for, entailed putting up a clothes
shop as fast as possible; he was to do this,
before the gates opened for shoppers; and
this was a week from the time of the call. A
temporary structure was what was needed
because permanent structures had all been
taken up; he did not have enough time to
put up a long-lasting one anyway. The
job required skill, speed (and I dare add)
lots of laughter. Humor was necessary as
tempers at Bertrand’s station flared often
among workers who did not know each
other and had to work day and night to
meet the fast approaching deadline.
Bertrand unfailingly reported at the
workstation every day to supervise his
workers. They laid stones, put the requisite,
walls, windows, ramps, doors and shelves.
But when he arrived
with a lorry on the
last day to do the
finishing touches,
he was crudely
told that entry for
constructors was not
allowed; he could
therefore not be let
in to complete his
project. Nothing he
said to the tenacious
gatekeepers could get
them to agree. And
just when it seemed
like there was no end
in sight to this ugly
confrontation, he
unexpectedly roared
with laughter. He
remembered that
laughter can alleviate
conflict. Before long,
the gatekeepers too
were breathless with
laughter. Needless
to say, this sudden
gust of laughter at
the peak of tension,
had done the trick.
Everyone thawed
and was ready to
help. The gates were
gleefully opened. A
relieved Bertrand,
still laughing, got
his workmates to
finish off the job as
he cracked jokes to
keep them energized
and active.
Laughter has been known to get
people out of vexing situations as you
have gathered from Bertrand’s case.
Here are some thoughts to think about
from helpguide; nothing diffuses anger
and conflict faster than a shared laugh.
Laughter lightens anger’s heavy load. It
MAY - JUNE 2018 47