by Sue Baldwin, guest blogger

When babies begin to relate to their parents, the adult hovers over them and tries to encourage their child to laugh. Then the child goes to school and a teacher will reprimand this same child for giggling and laughing in class with their peers. As adults we begin to assume the responsibilities that go with being “grown up,” and our giggles are there…but much fewer than before. When I was in grade school, I was continually getting reprimanded for being a “class clown.” I was told not to laugh and that I should take life more seriously. Now I get paid to teach people the importance of laughter and playing.

I have a friend who I have known for over 35 years. In fact, I used to be her boss, and then decided that it was more fun to be friends than her supervisor. There is some kind of chemical reaction when Vicki and I start laughing. Others might think it looks rather weird, including her husband, but we can bring up a fun memory from our past and take off laughing about the content.

Did you know that 100 belly laughs (and not the little smirks or lady-like laughs, but the ones that make your smile lines hurt and then sometimes you might even loose bladder control) equals 10 minutes of aerobic exercise? Now that works for me! Little giggles can lead to big laughter and it is contagious! I love the sound of laughter. Laughter is the sound of pure joy.

Have you ever been in a very serious place where it was very quiet and you started giggling over something? The more you try to stop it, the harder it becomes.

Laughing and giggling is good for our soul. I have found that I get the same kind of endorphin high from laughing as marathon runners do. I put very subtle reminders around my life to remind me to giggle. I have a T-Shirt, mug, button, and note cards that all say “giggle” (these can be purchased from Empoword); I have the word “GIGGLE” largely placed on my living room wall; and I will often place post-n-notes in precarious places to remind me not to take life so seriously.

I believe that life is too short to take everything so seriously. In 1997, I went in for a regular mammogram and was diagnosed with breast cancer. No family history. No symptoms. Nothing that would have warned me for this life changing event. As Charles Swindle says, “life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% of our reaction to the event.” Since this diagnosis, I have written two additional books to the two previous trade books that I had written. Lighten Up and Live Longer and The Playful Adult were my way of bring humor, laughter, and giggling to the forefront of my life. Encouraging people to find humor and laughter in their daily lives has become a passion of mine. It doesn’t mean that we all walk around laughing and giggling all day, but it is all about balance. The giggling will balance out the serious events that need to be dealt with. We have so many teachers on this topic: Erma Bombeck, Bill Cosby, Patch Adams, Robin Williams, Louie Anderson…..so many people who have had tragedy in their lives in one form or another…but people who have also taught us the importance of giggling and laughter.

I work professionally with child care professionals throughout the country, and I can see why so many of them love their job and are passionate about showing children how to have healthy lives. They are paid to be with children and to balance out being a responsible adult as well as a playful professional. I remember saying to one teacher, “It is really hard to be depressed around a two year old, isn’t it?”

A gift that I received after my cancer diagnosis was three grandchildren. There are the loves of my life, as well as my two adult daughters, and provide me with many occasions to laugh and giggle with them. They are very sensitive to my moods and when “Nana is happy…they are happy.” I recently taught my eight year old granddaughter, Ellie, how fun it was to blow bubbles out of the top of my sunroof and watch the people in the other cars at the stop lights. It would bring a smile to their face, and then even a laugh and giggle. What a great lesson for children to see – adults playing and having fun.

Last year, I got a new license plate. It says “JSTPLAY!” The man at the park-n-ride last week asked me the meaning of my license. I looked at him and said, “That’s all there is. It simply means – just play!”

So, you are invited to jump on my band wagon and get the world to giggle, laugh, and play more often. What harm will it do? Think of all the good it will do!

Sue is the owner of INSIGHTS Training & Consulting. She wears many “hats” which exemplify her motto of “Life is Short ~ Pursue Your Passion.”

Sue is a certified doula (birthing coach.) She is with parents as go through their pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. Sue is also involved with the American Cancer Society. And she is the author of four books. Visit her website www.suebaldwin.com for more these fun and informative publications.