Laugh Until Your Belly Hurts

"A day without laughter is a day wasted" --Charlie Chaplin

Laugh, until your belly hurts...

"Don't judge me until you've walked in my shoes."

Imagine if folks lived by that mantra. Just for a few seconds give that some thought. 

What kind of world would we have? Would it be that much different? Would there be more love going around?

Existential questions are so hard and yet, so necessary. 

It's imperative, however, that we all do our part to try to make this rock a more auspicious place.

After all, don't we all seek the same thing, happiness? 

I do, don't you?

We've been caught in a sticky web carrying the baggage of others, living the lie of our past.

It's ancient, really. This heavy load.

When we study the history of humanity, we see it so clearly, so transparent, so black & white. We learned something great and we unlearned it just as fast. We had the spark of wisdom and we lost it just as quickly. 

The Buddha said we come here to suffer, but we also come to learn. 

But he also said to laugh until your belly hurts. 

"Laughter is the best medicine", lest we forget. 

                            ***

It’s a wonderful feeling to make folks laugh. There's so much misery in the world, we need it. I will never forget a great advice from my grandpa: "When in doubt, opt for laughter." 

We all remember how it feels. That wonderful warmth we get when we're on a roll and can’t stop it. It's contagious and takes a life of its own.

 When you make people laugh all kinds of chemicals fluctuate inside your being. 

And theirs.

And when you laugh from the gut is when you are truly living in the moment. Same when the tears of laughter pour out. 

I know of some people who even died laughing. They didn’t even know what hit them. Death by happiness! Can't beat that. 

When it is my turn, that's the way I want to go. 

Death by LOL.

I wish I could put that on my last Testament and Will. 

                             ***

Anyway, back to happy living for a minute.

It’s really a break from the hard life we must endure. But Endorphins. 

Bless those. 

Can’t invent them, can’t trade them or barter them.

Can’t find them in the one-dollar store or the most expensive dojo in Beverly Hills or Ashram in India. 

Endorphins are the bomb. Oxytocin too. Together you're in good company and on top of the world. 

You can’t buy them, beg them or borrow them. Like humor. Cannot be purchased; it must be inherent, innate, organic. 

That dear friends, is the real meaning of life. To understand laughter and humor and use it to make existence a bit more enjoyable. 

To touch others with that magic is a purpose in itself. We might not be able to escape the unfairness of life or redirect it but at least we can–through that magnificent gift of humor & laughter–help people feel like little children once again. Completely non judgemental and free. 

And letting it be.