Hi everyone!

      I love to laugh.........people I haven't seen for many years say they remember me
      for my laugh.    Laughter is such a wonderful release of tension, and also an expression
      of sheer joy!     But, we also use laughter when faced with overwhelming adversity.
      I think it puts space between the problem/s that have just smacked us in the face,
      and the possibility of collapsing in a heap!

      In one of OSHO's books, he says that laughter "brings all of our parts together, making
      us whole again."     By our "parts" I take it that he means where our thoughts are at  -
      .......like worry about rising debts,   the kids or partner or both, or anything that takes up
      a huge chunk of thoughts throughout the day.    Suddenly, something will make us laugh
      and whatever was taking our attention away disappears so that we become whole again,
      our awareness is back in the moment.

      With the world going through many natural disasters, and with many countries still not
      recovered yet, how on earth does one cope.  Is it appropriate to have fun at times of crisis?
      Maybe it’s one of the most powerful things we can do. It’s like raising a fist to despair
      as if to say, “You can’t have me. I won’t give in.”
      In times when I have been faced with severe illness, it was laughter that really gave me
      the space I needed, like a respite from suffering.    I can laugh at myself when I am very ill,
      but I could never laugh at the adversity of another human, or animal.    
      It's an inner release button for the person going through the ordeal.

       Have you ever noticed your 'inbuilt mirror?'      It is when you can hear yourself speaking
       to another, and later think, "did I say that?   that sounded really silly........."  and that can
       send me into peels of laughter.  

       Fun is important, and there are loads of examples of fun and laughter in spiritual traditions.
      There is a Japanese proverb that says, "Time spent laughing is time spent with the gods."
       In the context of what happened in Japan , this is particularly meaningful.
      
       Laugh at something ordinary and every day.  Laugh at your own routines.  Laugh at your over
      active imagination. Laugh at the absurdity of chaos. Laugh at the frailty of life.
      Then surrender to new perspectives that only open up because you let the air out of your
      nervous energy. Fun is a pathway to spirit, rerouted surprise, laughter’s short cut.
      The spirit of fun in me greets the spirit of fun in you.    LOL!    
       (the above paragraph taken from Soulseeds - Spirituality and Fun)

Love to everyone, Tara *~~