I went to the gym this morning with a backache.
I contemplated staying home but I have a rule: Whenever I don’t want to go to the gym, that is precisely the day I must go to the gym. Try it. When you finish your workout, you’ll not only feel better but there will be a little swagger in your walk for the rest of the day.
Back to the gym…this was some backache. I stepped onto the treadmill and walked very slowly, hoping it would loosen up my tight muscles. As I was exercising, I watched “Morning Joe” on MSNBC-TV. They ran a clip of a politician talking about his new-found love for a convenience store. I started to laugh. As they showed more of the clip and the host’s deadpan expression, I laughed a little harder. In fact, I laughed out loud. Really loud. So loud that everyone around me thought I was nuts.
I stayed on the treadmill for 15 minutes and by the time I got off, my back felt terrific. Was it the treadmill or the joy of laughing? I bet it was the laughing. Having fun, being funny, and enjoying someone’s witty take on life makes me happy. And that happiness doesn’t quit…it stays with me the entire day.
If you don’t laugh at least once a day, you need to evaluate what you’re doing wrong. Perhaps you’re spending time with negative and pessimistic people. Perhaps you’re too hard on yourself. Perhaps you cannot find a reason to laugh. Sorry, you can find a reason to laugh: Read a funny book, watch an “Everyone Loves Raymond” rerun, or wear polka-dots with stripes and pretend it’s a perfect match. It’s do-able.
Everyone should apply “The Gym Theory of Life” to their lives. Okay, it’s not Einstein’s theory of relativity but still, I think it’s nifty. Just as I go to the gym when I would prefer to stay home, you have to find a way to laugh even when you’re tempted to succumb to gloom.
When you’re positive and willing to keep pushing, not only will your smile muscles relax but you will also earn a reputation for being fabulous. And that, my friends, is why you have the right to swagger away.
Very interesting — it’s when we make the unexpected effort — the one we normally walk away from — then the door of newness opens. I tried it recently with a “local” –a woman who comes across as a bit icy and stuffy. She’s always the first person to ask me a personal question and it occasionally comes across with a condescending edge. I was prepared this time. Instead of thinking I needed to answer her question, I questioned her back — but in a soft and very considerate voice. It was unbelievable…her guard completely dropped and she wound up confessing her spiritual work and its struggle. Then she insisted on giving me her card (I did not ask) and staying in touch. I walked away feeling filled up instead of drained. She needed it more than I did perhaps. Thank you for the reminder E. I think they call it a rally cap in baseball. Bugs Bunny knew; he may have been the king of transmutation! *giggles*
Dear Jennifer: The icy woman was walled off from closeness. You broke through the wall and gave her what she needed. ^5. She knew she was safe with you. How sad that she’s afraid to show her vulnerability — perhaps she’ll lower her guard and let more people in. You did a very good deed. Congratulations and best regards, E.
THANKS!! Did you write this especially for sour puss, me>LOVE your blogs@@
Dear Dee: I did not write this blog with you in mind but if you’re tempted to be a sour puss, you must fight the temptation as your gravitational pull for fabulous people will vanish. You’ll be sorrrrrrry. Affectionately, E.
Dee – You are so welcome! Glad to be useful and love to chatter on the keyboard. I encourage you to contemplate Sylvester the sour puss kitty who was in constant struggle with tweety bird. Although he was sour, he kept on plugging with his innate enthusiasm. Little did he know that he was struggling with his own nature. You are not in that position — you can make a different effort — to laugh, to struggle to see things differently, etc. I know how you feel…and I promise that sometimes the tiniest of efforts can yield big results. Bugs didn’t fight it, he went with it — sometimes he even put on a costume and masqueraded as someone else…go out and buy yourself a lovely straw summer hat — wear it out a lot — I do, people remember you. Better yet, start a sour puss blog and start laughing at yourself — it’s not who you really are…it’s a reaction that you have grown accustomed to, that is all. Take an acting class, it did wonders for me. There are so many alternatives…I promise.
Dear Jennifer: Yeah, baby! I love the coaching. Keep it up — we need more positive spirits around us. The gloom/doom thing is getting stale. We’re all in this together. Thanks for writing! Regards, E.
Pardon me — seriously, I had a narcississtic moment — I thought dee was responding to what i wrote…this is not my blog…but I do enjoy it so much. Just when I thought I was mastering the art of altruism, my self indulgent shadow snuck up on me. Will be more considerate while on the bench.
Ellen,
Sorry to hear your back was “out of it” but glad to hear you resolved the inner conflict and felt so much better. This post made me laugh as I pictured you at the gym and laughing…too cute.
I invested in a Bellicon rebounder (mini trampoine) last year and I use it daily for my workouts. I start to giggle as soon as I begin barely jumping and then start laughing as soon as I start jumping higher and gaining momentum. I don’t listen to music or watch anything because it appears being “in the moment” works out perfectly. When you’re laughing on the outside your belly is laughing on the inside and that’s good medicine!
Using humor to defuse tense, negative, or angry (within reason) situations or an individual works wonders. If you can “read a room”, access the situation and calm the atmosphere by bringing in a giggles or sharing a laughing moment then everyone feels better and they won’t know what you just did but they want more. So stay true to your swagger and always bring along what I call “the gift of the giggles.” One size fits all!