Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - Where's Santa

 

Humor Happy Hour - Where's Santa

Humor for your Holiday Season

Wordless Wednesday - Soothing Violin Music of Damien Escobar

 

YouTube Video Credit: Damien Escobar

I don't own the rights to this music

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - Lethal Hands

 

YouTube Video - Humor Happy Hour

Motivational Monday – Humor and the Holidays: A 3-step approach to happiness during the holidays

I am…

I can…

I will…

I am happy.

I can do whatever I set my mind to do.

I will, relax, rejuvenate, and rejoice.

What are your plans for the upcoming Holiday season? Will you spend Thanksgiving with family, friends, or feasting on a smaller level? Before you bake that first pie, or baste your turkey, take a moment to think about what this season means to you.

If it’s happiness you’re seeking, begin with gratitude, sprinkle with humor, and drizzle with fun. I’ve often heard happiness described as a state of mind. If this statement is true, start by conditioning your mind to believe that you ARE happy. Go through your day as though you already have what you are seeking.

Below are three steps to help you find happiness during the holidays.

Step 1  Practice mindfulness – focus on being in the moment without worrying about all the tasks that need to be done during the holiday. Being in the moment means enjoying the process rather than rushing to get to the end result.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the upcoming holiday, find a way to add lightheartedness to whatever you do. I did this very thing the other day. I was in the Holiday spirit, creating my gift giving list when a thought hit me – did I pay my auto loan this month? I had not.

I quickly called the finance company to make a payment over the phone. The customer service person was friendly, he asked how my day was going. It could have been part of his training, to put the customer at ease about the chunk of money they’re about to give up. He was pleasant so I accepted his comments.

After making the payment, the representative said, “I will email your receipt.”

He recited my email address. When he saw it contained the word writer, our conversation took a different direction. “Oh, you’re a writer. Do you write fiction, non-fiction?”

“I write children’s books, essays, and comedy.”

“Oh, you do stand up? Can you give me one line.”

I paused as a chuckle rose from my belly. My quiet thoughts said, ok, just go with this.

“I’ll tell you one of my opening lines… I used to be a brick house, now I’m just happy with a CLEAN house.”

I was rewarded with a hearty laugh from the friendly customer service guy. So, I asked, “Now, do I get a discount for telling you a joke?” He laughed louder.

I did not receive a discount, but Mr. Friendly said I made his day. I had fun at that moment even though I had to pay that bill before I could do some fun shopping.

 

Step 2  Create a mantra – come up with a positive phrase that you repeat daily (in the morning and again before you go to bed). This could be as simple as coming up with I am statements such as the one I used at the beginning of this post.

 

Step 3  Have Fun – Allow yourself to relax, breathe and have fun. Change your perspective on tasks that you do during the Holiday. Instead of saying I have to go shopping for my five nieces and nephews. Say I get to go shopping for my nieces and nephews.

While you’re shopping take the time to enjoy the twinkling lights in the stores, and the songs blaring through the speakers. Dance in the aisle if you want.

Happiness is a state of mind. We have to train our minds for the joy we want to feel.

I am…I can…I will. How will you complete these statement?

I am Hott Flash, your Humor Doctor, and I am prescribing laughter for your Holiday season; one dose at a time.

Find something to laugh about during your day. Leave something funny in the comments.

Wordless Wednesday - Funny Quotes

 

20 Funny Quotes - Quotes that will make you laugh

YouTube Video Credit - Quotes/Wishes and Sayings

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - A Mammogram Gone Wild

 

The Mammogram Visit

Monday Musings – Discovering Humor During a Mammogram Visit

 

There is a first time for everything. You have probably heard that expression before. We experience things such as – first day of school, first kiss, first time you realize your mustache is growing. That’s just my backstory.

I recently experienced my first mammogram…in a parking lot. I drove to the clinic, rushed inside, only to be directed back outside to the long truck branded with the words, Mobile Mammography. I’m not sure how I missed that on my way in, probably because I didn’t think it was for me.

Once on board the mammography mobile, I was asked to have a seat, “please give us a few minutes to get you checked in. Our computer is not connecting.”

Waiting for their internet to connect gave me way too much time with my inner thoughts. It was really only ten minutes, but that was all I needed for ideas to jump from my head and into my humor journal. Here are some thoughts I had:

A pre-check-in questionnaire is required before the mammogram visit. Suppose I had a set of questions for the receptionist? This is what it would look like:

Have you ever been car jacked? If you answered yes, please explain.

Is there a warranty on your imaging equipment?

Have you paid the internet bill?

The more I thought about it I wondered, why did I have to leave my home at pre daylight, and arrive at the clinic at 8am? This is a mobile unit can’t they drive to my house, or at least meet me halfway? We could both save on fuel.

I was swimming in the deep end with my thoughts when the x-ray technician, Rachel announced, “we’re ready for you.”

I slipped into the semi-stylish gown and met her at the back of the truck…I mean the imaging room. I followed directions as she said, “put your right hand up here and your left hand there.” Without warning, I was playing a game of Twister.

“Lean your cheek against the glass, breathe. Hold it there for 10 seconds.”

Breathe, hold still… too many conflicting commands for me. As I let out a sigh, from the corner of my eye, I could see that GE made the imaging machine. That General Electric symbol gave me comfort that I was in good hands, well not hands, but you know what I mean. I could erase my thoughts of what if this machine malfunctions while my body parts are secured in place.

I survived the parking lot mammogram with humor. Schedule your regular doctor visits, focus your wellness, and if you become anxious about the visit, find something humorous about the situation.

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - The Nightmare

 

YouTube Video: A Humorous look at a nightmare

Wordless Wednesday - Are you prepared for menopause?

Let's close out Menopause Awareness Month with a male perspective on menopause. Comedian Jeff Allen explains how nothing prepares you for menopause.

YouTube Video Credit: Jeff Allen Comedy

Wordless Wednesday - Tickle your Funnybone during Menopause Awareness Month

 Menopause Awareness Month is celebrated during the month of September. Don't fret over frustrating symptoms, laugh instead.

Check out the video below.

YouTube Video Credit: Kim Kerley Therapist Comedian

Dry Bar Comedy

YouTube Video Credit:

Monday Musings – A Sneak Peek inside the Motor City Comedy Festival – A Day in the life of a comedian

 

Have you ever been to a comedy show and wondered what a comedian does when not on stage? We write, we learn, and we practice. When a comedian can make telling jokes look effortless, that person has done a great job. A day in the life of a comedian is different for each person, but ultimately the goal is to work at becoming funnier. However, there is a business side to comedy.

If you are an aspiring comedian or interested in learning more about comedy, there are ways to become involved. There are comedy classes offered in person and online. There are also humor writing workshops, and comedy festivals. Here are a few workshops I have been a part of:

·         Comedy Writing Workshops at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle – check your local area to see who may be offering a workshop of interest to you. I’ve discovered in the classes that I’ve taken that people have various reasons for taking the workshop. Some want to perform stand-up as a career, others try it as a hobby.

·         Dave Schwensen’s Comedy Workshops – Zoom

·         Erma Bombeck Writing Workshop – this workshop is not strictly stand-up comedy but focuses on humor writing.

·         Motor City Comedy Festival – this was my first year attending this festival. I was not one of the performers but learned a lot in the workshops.

Before I tell you about the festival, let me go back to a day in the life of a comedian. I am no different than other comedians when I say we like to grab a mic when we can. We may perform at one location then leave there and perform at another. This is sort of how it happened for me this past weekend.

I had the opportunity to perform at an outdoor event a couple of hours from home. It’s always energizing to hear the crowd laughing. I think that energy is what gave me the boost I need for the turnaround drive home. I was determined to get home and rest so I would be alert for the comedy festival the next day.

Back to the Comedy Festival…

The festival consisted of workshop topics such as:

·         Marketing and Promotion

·         Become a Better MC

·         Touring

·         Contracts

·         Digital Content & Media

The workshops were held during the day, and on the four evenings seasoned comedians performed for the general public at various locations. The entire festival was a great opportunity to hang out with fellow comedians, make new friendships, and learn more about the inner workings of comedy as a business.

I promised you a peek inside the Motor City Comedy Festival.  Here’s a quick view through pictures.

If you’ve ever wanted to try comedy, go for it.

Wordless Wednesday - Menopause Awareness Month - It's a Rap

 Keep laughing through Menopause Awareness Month (September).

YouTube Video Credit: Karen Mills Comedy - Menopause Rap

Wordless Wednesday - The Funny side of Menopause

The month of September is recognized as Menopause Awareness Month. Embrace this phase of life rather than suffering from its symptoms. One way to do this is through laughter.

Enjoy the video below, courtesy of Dry Bar Comedy.

YouTube Video: Marriage Leads to Menopause. Tony Calabrese

Dry Bar Comedy

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - A DIY project gone wrong

 

YouTube Video: Humor Happy Hour - Skilled at Carpentry?

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - The Make-Believe Rollercoaster

 

YouTube Video - The Make-Believe Rollercoaster

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - The Undercover Gospel Singer

 Is singing your gift? If not, you may want to go under cover.

Muffins with Mom – Sharpen Your Math Skills – 3 Ways to Survive Parenting a Young Adult

  

My math skills are rusty. I know addition, subtraction, and multiplication, but there’s a situation that has me boggled. Perhaps you can help me. If there are two people at my house, why are there nine pair of shoes scattered near the front door, and none are mine?

There was one pizza box and two drinking glasses on the kitchen table. This led me to the conclusion that at some point two sons visited me in the middle of the night. When I awoke there was only one son present. I let him sleep a while longer so I could enjoy the quiet of the early morning.

The sound of my tea kettle and the smell of bacon, must have awakened my sleeping prince charming. I say this dripping with sarcasm. He came to life as he entered my quiet space, “Are you making breakfast?”

“Yes, and what time did you get home last night? Did you take Granny where she needed to go? How long did you stay? Who else went with you?”

“Ma, catch your breath. You missed your calling. You shouldn’t be in recreation; you should be in investigation or interrogation.”

“Investigation, interrogation, and perspiration, are some of the skills, knowledge and abilities required for the job of parenting.”

My son gave his typical rolling of the eyes, and heavy sighing; then moved on to prepare for breakfast.

How do you survive parenting young adults? You beat them at their own game. Here are 3 survival tactics:

1.      Promise to spoil their children rotten, then send them home.

2.      Give them the same blessing your parents gave you – may your children be just like you.

3.      Handle the craziness with humor.

You can sharpen your math skills when parenting a young adult. Here’s how:

1.      Subtract knee jerk, negative responses.

2.      Add positive comments.

3.      Multiply the amount of times you express your love and support.

 

What are your tips for parenting a young adult?

Wordless Wednesday - A security guard, a metal detector and a woman meet - and humor happens

 

YouTube Video: Humor Happy Hour - The Metal Detector

Fun Friday – What to expect when you’re expecting stress free travel plans

 

How do you plan for a trip? Do you recite a list in your head to make sure you have packed everything for your trip? Two things you must pack are your patience, and a sense of humor. This reminds me of the old American Express card commercial, never leave home without it.

One of my favorite bible stories growing up was about Sampson, and how God gave him physical strength in a time of dire need. I didn’t think I was in dire need the day I felt like I had the strength of Sampson. My miraculous episode of strength happened during a conference.

Rising before the sun, I pulled on my purple spandex workout pants, and matching tank top with a white swoosh on it. Off I went to the hotel fitness center. For the next 40 minutes I did squats, knee thrusts, used weights, and ended with a short yoga session.

At the end of my huffing and puffing I felt energized and ready for my first cup of coffee. A warm shower was a pre-curser to that cup of coffee.

Back in the room, I attempted to wash the sweat and workout germs from my hands. The bar of soap could hardly be considered a bar. It was the length of a business card, and only a little thicker.  A lather formed on my hands as I rubbed and sang the Happy Birthday song. Before I could sing round two of the song, the soap broke in half and hid itself in the lather.

The itty-bitty, teeny tiny soap didn’t hold up, under the pressure of my strong hands. I tossed the remnants of soap in the dish on the countertop and stepped into the shower hoping for better results, but that was not the case.

In the shower, there was no itty-bitty soap to contend with, instead there was body wash. The gel soap was in a metal container attached to the shower wall. The container looked sturdy…but it had not yet met my hands. I pressed the knob with the palm of my hand, and a squirt of the gel dropped into my hand, but so did the face of the container.

The little patience I packed, was begging to run out. The bright side was, each time a mishap occurred, my humor bone strengthened. I didn’t crush, crumble, or smash anything else during my trip, but there were other occurrences where I was glad I’d traveled with my sense of humor.

When you expect to have a stress-free trip, know that things happen, and the best laid plan can go off course. Pack your patience and your sense of humor and enjoy your journey.

What is something humorous that has happened during a trip you’ve taken?

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - Costly car repairs

 

YouTube Video: The lighter Side if a costly car repair

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - Muscles that refuse to cooperate

 

Humor Happy Hour - Do your muscles pop?

Wordless Wednesday - Finding humor with helpful family

 

Humor Happy Hour - Helpful Family

Muffins with Mom – The Lighter Side of Car Repairs

 

Is there anyone among us who likes costly auto repairs? When I am told that my car needs repairs, I break out in a sweat, clench my jaws, and temporarily stop breathing. The price is written on a piece of paper and slid across the counter to me.

I stared at the numbers scratched on the paper. I blew out a gush or air so strong, that the service guy could probably smell the purple onions and Raspberry vinegarette dressing from my salad at lunchtime.

“Let me think about whether I want to have this done right now,” I said to the service person.

When I returned home, I shared my repair situation with my son. He shared his viewpoint with me.

“Ma, that’s not something that you really need right now. Think of it like this…your chip a fingernail and they want you to get a new set, but all you really need is a fill-in.”

“When did you learn nail tech language?”

“I’m just trying to explain things in a way you would understand.”

Since my son painted a clear picture (pun intended, newly painted nails and all), I decided not to go with the cosmetic repairs.

Instead of crying over the money I would have to spend on car repairs, my son provided me with a moment of humor relief.

Where are you finding humor – at work, a family situation, perhaps an embarrassing moment? Humor is around us every day, uncover it and use it as a stress release.

Feel Good Friday – 10 Things that bring you joy

 

Joy – “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” What are you doing to experience your share of joy as often as possible? Do something today that gives you a feeling of happiness and great pleasure.

Don’t miss out on the joys in your life. An article I read suggested making a list of 10 things that bring you joy. For those who are writers, the article suggested that you write about one of the items in a journal, essay, or blog post.

For those who are not writers, don’t fret. Here’s your challenge…everyday for ten days, engage in one item from your list. What would you include as the 10 things that bring you joy? Below are 7 examples from my list:

1.      Relaxing on a lawn chair soaking up the sunshine

2.      Watching a Hallmark movie

3.      Reading a good book

4.      Laughing with family and friends

5.      Reading a devotional

6.      Experiencing a massage

7.      Sipping coffee and watching a sunrise

I could probably come up with a story to share related to each one of the items above, but I’ll share a quick one. I remember sitting in my backyard on a blanket on a warm sunny day during the COVID quarantine. I relaxed with a book, my bare feet, and birds tweet overhead.

An unwanted guest interrupted my relaxation. Out of my peripheral vision, a shadow swept past me. Was it a bunny, a chipmunk, a little bird who lost its’ way? No, it was a mouse. Minnie and Mickey Mouse are cute on TV, but not dashing through my backyard. I took up my blanket and left.

Now I enjoy the sunshine and breeze from the sliding door in my kitchen.

You may be able to come up with an extensive list of ways you find joy, if so, create a list of 30 things. Your task then becomes a 30-day challenge of seeking great pleasure and happiness. Go for it.

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - Kids Say the Darndest Things

 

YouTube Video: Remember the saying, Kids should be seen and not heard? Here's a fun example

Motivational Monday – National Brain Health Month

 

Are you keeping your brain healthy? The month of June is recognized as National Brain Month. Focus on things that bring awareness to your self-care and wellness. A few ways to accomplish this include – exercise, socialization, and being mentally active.

One method I use for mental health is to practice yoga and meditation. I am not at the top of the class when it comes to meditation, my mind won’t cooperate. The soft voice guiding the meditation says, “relax your mind.”

My mind immediately snaps back at the calm voice – I need to make a grocery list, put a load of clothes in the wash…what time does the bank close today?

The voice continues, softly rolling instructions from her tongue like a ball of yarn unraveling. My legs are crossed, my back is straight, and my eyes are closed. My mind…still not relaxed.

The friendly voice says, “inhale.” What I hear is in hell. My mind lashes out at the voice, who’s in hell. I’m not going to hell. I’m trying to live right, get my body right. I don’t want to be in hell.

After a couple more deep breaths, I refocused. I realized I’d had a flash back to my childhood days where we studied words that sound alike but have different meanings. I believe those are called homophones.

The same as we practiced our lessons in childhood, there are still things we can learn as aging adults. Perhaps there is an activity you have considered trying but kept putting it off. Challenge yourself to try something new this month.

Invest in yourself this month, exercise, eat healthy, socialize, and focus on your mental health. You deserve it.

Motivational Monday - Memorial Day Inspiration

 

YouTube Video Credit: True Wordings

Wordless Wednesday - Humor Happy Hour - The Shower Incident

 

YouTube: The Shower Incident - uncovering humor in a crazy situation

What are you finding humorous today?

Wordless Wednesday - A Dose of Humor - The Yoga Incident

 

The Yoga Incident

Monday Musings – Mental Health Awareness Month – How gratitude and humor help

 

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Health is wealth, this is a statement that is used quite often. The month of May is observed as Mental Health Awareness Month and is a great opportunity to emphasize health and wellbeing. Laughter is one method to use to assist with your wellbeing.

I saw an advertisement recently about practicing yoga, it read, “when your mind is right, your body will follow.” My first thought was my mind must not be right because my body is not doing what I want it to do…lose weight.

I’ve tried yoga, I like yoga, I’ve failed at yoga, but I keep trying. I attribute my stalling weight loss efforts to the aging process. I know I am stronger because I am moving my body, but I feel like I have to work doubly hard (I know that’s not correct grammar) to get the results I want. I’m not giving up yet, but I will poke fun at things along the way.

In addition to humor, expressing gratitude can help your mood. These things help me find balance and still have joy although I have not reached my self-imposed goals and deadlines. I’ll share a story of how I recently combined gratitude and humor.

After experiencing a plumbing issue, I was grateful for balanced water pressure at home.

I awoke one morning, started my routine by brushing my teeth. I turned the water on and a stream of water, the thickness of a pencil led, trickled out. I cupped one hand under the faucet in an attempt to rinse the foamy toothpaste from my mouth. It felt like an eternity before my mouth was clear of foam.

Flushing the toilet was an adventure in itself. Just to get toilet paper to go down, required holding the handle for a ten count. Once, I walked away and returned and the toilet paper was back. It felt as though I was in a game of hide-n- seek. Where was the water pressure I needed?

As I turned on the shower, my expectations were low. Would there be enough water pressure to work up a lather with the soap? The answer to this question was a resounding, YES, the water worked up a lather. However, the experience was the opposite of what I anticipated.

I stepped into the shower, adjusted the water temperature, all of a sudden the water was shooting out rapid fire. I blast of water hit me in the eye, then my ear. I started swinging my arms and flailing my arms like a panicked swimmer trying to stay above water.

A twist of the shower head balanced the power of the water pressure. That shower scene taught me to be grateful for the little things…working water. Being able to laugh through the frustration of failed yoga sessions, and wacky water pressures, was good for my mental health.

Make a deliberate effort this month to focus on your mental health. It must be a priority…and laughter helps.

 

Wellness Wednesday – National Smile Month

 Share your smile with a friend

This post is a repeat from last year, yet still relevant. Happy National smile Month.

The month of May is celebrated as National Smile Month. This day was established by the Oral Health Foundation to raise awareness of important health issues. And it serves as an opportunity to flash your bright smile after a dental cleaning (just my opinion).

During my last dental cleaning, the hygienist asked how my adult sons were doing. She reminisced about the times my younger son would visit for his cleaning. He was about three or four years old at the time she recalled. “He would hop in the chair, no apprehensions, and after a short while he was asleep.”

A few years older, my son was still relaxed enough to fall asleep. The dentist and hygienist liked the antics of my son, but I was the one who got in trouble for his smile. I was told, “Mom, you have to brush his teeth for him when he doesn’t do it.” I don’t think they understood my struggle. I tried to brush his teeth; I got a few of them brushed before he twisted and turned.

Fast forward fifteen years or so I’ve still said a time or two, “Did you make your dental appointment?”

His response was, “Ma, I’ve got it from here.”

That’s when I realized, this phase of my parenting was done. The condition of my son’s smile was now in his hands.

What will you do to observe National Smile Month? Dental Health.org has ideas for celebrating. If you have grandchildren or know of young children, one idea that sounds fun is to write a letter to the tooth fairy.

For adults who want to show support, take a smiling selfie, and post it to social media. There is a “Smiliey” background that Dental Health would like you to use. If you’re interested in more details about National Smile Month, click here.

Keep your smile healthy and brighten someone’s day by flashing your smile at them.

Wordless Wednesday - National Humor Month - Do grandparents really spoil their grandkids?

 

Wordless Wednesday - Experience joy through humor

 Life situations that make you make you laugh...

YouTube Video Credit: Dry Bar Comedy - How to find Joy in Chaos - Kenn Kington

Fun Friday – How to tackle weight loss goals during menopause?

Menopause is fun, Menopause is fun…said no one ever. You don’t have to be afraid of the big bad wolf, just know she’s lurking around. That girl called Minnie Pause will try to rob you of your senses (brain fog) and steal your energy (leaving you tired and not wanting to workout). Don’t fret, regroup and reassess your goals and priorities.

Weight gain. My grandmother used to call it the middle-aged spread. Experts say hormone changes during menopause can cause weight gain, but this is not the only factor; lifestyle and genetic factors also play a role. How do you handle weight loss challenges during menopause? Get right in their face, point your finger at them and say, “I’m not going down without a fight.”

Here are 3 ways to change your thought process for better weight loss success, by changing your goals.

New Weight Loss Goals

1.      Ability to wear a shirt tucked in

2.      Ability to breathe normally after climbing a flight of stairs

3.      Make healthy eating choices

As soon as you become determined to set new goals there will be distractions and temptations. What do I mean?

I’m a nighttime snacker (daytime too), my food of choice is sweets. I set a goal to give up snacks for 30 days. On day four without sweets the temptation happened. It was during my lunch break at work. I was at the drive-thru placing an order for my coffee, the voice from within the little box asked, “Would you like a chocolate chip cookie with that?”

The voice within my head screamed, “NO I don’t want a chocolate chip cookie. I just set new weight loss goals. Are you trying to derail my efforts?” I relaxed my scrunched eyebrows and said, “No thanks, just the coffee.” Whew, close call.

Menopause Ain’t No Joke.

Menopause is not fun, but you can poke fun at it. Do you have tips for conquering weight loss goals?

If you enjoyed today's post, check out my book Menopause Ain't No Joke for more stories that take a light hearted look at life's struggles.

  

Wellness Wednesday - Motivational quotes from women comedians

It’s Women’s History Month. Below are quotes by female comedians and actresses, to motivate you.

​​It’s your outlook on life that counts. If you take yourself lightly and don’t take yourself too seriously, pretty soon you can find the humor in our everyday lives. And sometimes it can be a lifesaver.

— Betty White

If you feel like there’s something out there that you’re supposed to be doing, if you have a passion for it, then stop wishing and just do it.
— Wanda Sykes

Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.

-Lucille Ball

Comedian Jenna Kim Jones

Video Credit: Dry Bar Comedy

 

Monday Musings – International Day of Happiness – What makes you happy?

 

Fun times at a Mic Larry Comedy Show

Any day is a great day to spread happiness and to engage in things that cause you to smile. One thing that brings me happiness is sharing the joy of laughter through comedy.

Do enjoy watching a comedy show? Have you ever thought about what those comics are like off stage? Did you know that you can sign up for comedy classes/workshops?

If you’ve ever thought you’d like to try comedy, the workshops are available to you. Different workshops offer different things. In my first classes I learned about stage presence, the comedy language, and how to set up a joke.

In the classes each person has a different reason for being there. Some want to pursue comedy as a career, others are there because someone said they were funny.

Enough about that stuff, let me take you behind the scenes of how I prepare for a comedy show. I should tell you not everyone prepares for a show in the same manner. Because I am a writer, I like to write my jokes down. Even if I decide to go a different direction the day of an event, I have a foundation in my head to pull from.

Below are photos my son took as I was preparing for a show that I knew would stretch me out of my comfort zone. He said, “Relax ma, breathe, this is not your first rodeo.”

My son pulled up a playlist of songs that were my favorites. I rocked to the beat and sang some of the lyrics as I reviewed my notes.

Preparing for a comedy show (me)

Performing comedy is not always easy, but it’s fun, it’s my happy place. What makes you happy? How will you share happiness with others?

Wordless Wednesday - Humor at the dentist

 How can you find humor at the dentist? Think outside the box.

The Dental Visit

Wellness Wednesday – 3 Ways to laugh yourself happy

 

Laughter is wellness. When you include laughter in your selfcare it can brighten your daily mood. Create happiness in your day with laughter.

Here are 3 ways to laugh yourself happy:

1.      Include laughter as part of your daily routine. Are there things you do to start your day? Add laughter to your program. Keep a joke book next to your bed. One of my favorites is a  Reader’s Digest joke book. Many of the jokes are short, you could read a page a day. If you want to keep a smile across your face, take short breaks in your work day to read a quick joke.

2.      Start a joke jar. This is something you can do as a family. Have each family member write a funny joke on a slip of paper and place it in a jar. During dinner have one person pull from the jar and read the joke. Let the laughter begin. The joke may lead to a trip down memory lane, reflecting on other fun times.

3.      Laugh at yourself. We practice this one in my household. My 26-year-old son called me the other day and said, “Ma, you won’t believe what just happened to me.” I pressed the phone closer to my ear in anticipation of his story.

Let me set the stage for you…it was a cold and snowy day. My son said, “I had my Crocs on and went outside to warm my car up…and slipped on the snow. I think it was caught on The Ring.”

Sure enough, his episode in the snow was caught on his Ring security camera. He did not simply slip on the snow, he was diving forward. He slid a couple of times as if he were ice skating, put his hand down to brace himself, slid again, then finally back up on his feet.

My son shared his video clip with me and gave me permission to laugh, and to share his mishap. No he was not hurt, and he was able to laugh at himself.

YouTube Video: A trip to the car that goes wrong (humorously speaking).

Laughter is wellness. Laugh yourself happy, beginning today.

Words of Wisdom - Black History Month Inspiration - Quotes from notabale Black figures

 

YouTube Video Credit: Newsweek

Muffins with Mom – A minute to meditate – 3 Tips for humor as self-care

 

If you give a mom a minute...she'll be distracted

...And distracted again

If you give a mom a minute to meditate, she’ll drift into a deep sleep. If she goes to sleep, she’ll want to snuggle with her favorite fleece blanket. If her blanket isn’t warm enough, she’ll want fuzzy socks.

If her sock has a hole in it, she’ll search for needle and thread to sew up. As she sews the hole, she’ll become tired and remember why she began to meditate in the first place. And the cycle repeats in the life of a busy mom.

Step off the hamster wheel, the merry-go-round, the rinse and repeat cycle of life, and schedule deliberate time for selfcare. Laughter is one tool I like to include in my selfcare, and you can too. Here are 3 ways to use humor or laughter as selfcare.

1.      Find humor in daily situations – I’ve fallen asleep during meditation, prayer, and a zoom class. None of these things were boring, it’s just that my body has a mind of it’s on. When it needs rest, it’s going to rest. I find the humor in each situation and share it through a story or comedy. You too can uncover humor in your daily walk. Try it.

2.      Treat yourself to a comedy show – find a comedy club in your area, call a friend, and laugh until your cheeks hurt.

3.      Read something humorous – as a youngster I loved to read Archie comics.  Every now and then I’ll still grab an Archie Digest from the bookstore (yes Archie comics are still around). The stories my not be laugh out loud funny, but they can evoke a smile. I’m currently reading Fifty Things that Aren’t My Fault by Cathy Guisewite, the creator of the comic strip Cathy. I have laughed out loud while reading her book. I also had an opportunity to meet Cathy in person at the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop in 2022. Her keynote talk had the room filled with laughter.

If you give a mom a minute to meditate, she can truly find a million other things to distract her. The opposite can also happen -  she will fall asleep because she just finished doing a million things. Laughter can help to ease some of the daily stress we experience.

Take a minute, or two, or three to invest in your selfcare. Laugh more.

Fun Friday – Where do you find humor?

 

Laughter with friends

Did you know that children laugh over 200 times a day and adults only about 17 times? It’s time to increase our laugh quotient. Humor is all around us. Think about that statement and observe your surroundings as you go through your day.

If you have ever received unwanted emails, take a look at them before deleting; see if you can uncover humor. I sometimes wonder how I am targeted for certain emails. Here’s what was going through my head as I read through emails recently:

No, I’ve never been to Camp Lejeune.

No, I don’t have a pending asbestos lawsuit.

And Harry’s Men’s Razor…please stop pressuring me about my mustache. How do they even know I have a mustache?

Family can also serve as a source of humor, without even realizing it. I had a conversation the other day with my roommate (my adult son), “Buddy, could you unload the dishwasher for me? This is not the first time I’ve mentioned this.”

He said, “Oh, I forget about the dishes. I don’t go over that way much.”

“It’s next to the refrigerator!”

I love my family, but I also read them my Miranda Rights of Comedy. You have the right to remain silent. Anything crazy, dumb, or stupid that you say, may end up in my comedy.

If by chance humor doesn’t jump out at you, create it yourself.

If you are ready to engage in laughter join me and several of my fellow comedians for a Zoom Comedy Showcase – February 13^th 7pm EST. The show is free, but you must register to receive the link.

May your days be filled with laughter.