Life After Death

In 69 days the world, as I knew it, changed dramatically. My brother, Patrick died of AIDS.  I found out he was sick, spent precious time with him in the hospital, eulogized and buried him in what felt like the blink of an eye.

During those 69 days I learned so much about life, love, self esteem, strength, faith and family.  I loved our time together.  I loved our talks.  It was nice to laugh with him, pamper him...just BE together. I remember one day while watching TV he looked over at me and said,

Spreading Laughter

The well-dressed grown ups find the opening scene of the play in this movie (see trailer below)  ridiculous.  It is only when the CHILDREN in the 25 scattered seats begin to LAUGH that the adults laugh too.
 


Give yourself the gift of laughter and imaginary wonder....watch FINDING NEVERLAND.

BOINGy! BOINGy! LoL!

I am jumping into spring like a child on pogo stick. I encourage you to join me for a LIFESTYLE change!  I will be inviting everyone to play on purpose, move more and eat more consciously. I wholeheartedly believe that the greatest benefits of laughter come in concert with living well. This message is the inspiration and passionate purpose behind my company, WHOLE BODY LAUGHTER.

Over the next few months I'll be enjoying a long overdue personal time out, doing a spring detox (yep it's true) as well as getting in shape for a 4 mile obstacle course for charity (yipes)!

Tim Brown on Creativity & Play

My favorite part is the reckless abandon that takes over the room during the finger rocket game.

Michelle Obama on Laughter & Relationship

Michell Obama shares her views on laughter and how it has helped her 19 year relationship with President Barak Obama stay strong.  Click here to read the article.

Falling in Self Love: Day 234 Tears of a Clown

Yesterday started out as a difficult day.  There seemed to be a dark cloud looming over me that I just couldn't shake.  After trying a few things from my vibrant living bag-o-tricks, I reached out to loved ones for support.  Simply asking them to hold me in a positive and loving thought, prayer... As the day went on I was mesmerized by the magic of synchronicity!  The subject I was scheduled to teach in class inspired a question from a student which spoke directly to my present circumstance.  My partner surprised me after work with a healthy salad that nourished my body.  Later on I went to a memorial service for a fellow comic.  It was wonderful to hear about his life from his family and friends.  Each comedian at the open mic told and retired one of his jokes.  It really was beautiful.  We gathered at a restaurant afterward and talked about life...the subject of addiction came up (our friend had lost his battle with substance abuse).  As I fell asleep and woke this morning I found myself thinking of all that I'd learned about sadness and the ways we chose to deal with our fears.  I am thankful that I felt my feelings yesterday.  I am thankful for the loving support I received. I am thankful that I've chosen a career that allows me to laugh, cry, be triumphant, scared, inspiring and hopeful, publicly. That my truth (in any given moment) may be part of life's rainfall of lessons not only to myself but to any witness or participant.  In this moment, I am humble, filled with gratitude and joy...let it rain!

Yesterday this was my unstoppable song!

Falling in Self Love: Day 224 LOVEluck Dinner

Tonight there were 8 guests at my dinner table.  We ate well, laughed and had a great time together!!   I am now calling these gatherings LOVElucks b/c people don't usually bring already prepared foods. They are bringing an ingredient that I will use to cook something on the menu of another week.  One friend is bringing a culinary herb plant each week.  Once the weather warms and the garden is up, the herbs will be a wonderful perpetual gift!  Another friend brought a candle (I LOVE white unscented candles)!

This project began as my selection for the Aliveness Invitation that I posed to my laughter yoga students at SLCC.  If you want to read more about this 15 week project and/or join us... click here ...

Anyhoo, this new LOVEluck dinner tradition is warming souls as well as bellies. For that, I am thankful!

Tonight's Menu

Starters...
Fancy cheese assortment & flatbread
Chipotle squash & wild rice soup w/ homemade yogurt

Salad...
Green salad w/ brussel sprouts, avocado, marinated sunflower seeds, sprouted beans & homemade pumpernickle croutons

Main Course...
Creamy red potatoes
Chicken with warm olive & shallot vinaigrette
Apple cider & pomegranate limeade

Dessert...
Madeira cake w/ homemade blueberry sauce and fresh pineapples
Vanilla-almond earl grey tea
Port

Falling in Self Love: Day 179 Reuse, Renew, Rejuvenate

 Laughter Headquarters  renovations are underway! I used to say that I am not a painter..so not true! I am! I am...anything I set my soul to! As I build the foundation of my laughter company I feel proud and excited that the office of foolishness is almost complete! It feels good achieve success with a project that I thought I couldn't do!

Before

After - rehearsal stage, desk, laughter quote board

After - chalkboard on back of door

After - bistro seating for show previews

After - desk (on stage) toy & bookshelf

Falling in Self Love: Day 158 Best Friends

2nd grade introductions, summer stock, tuna fish & iced tea, running away from home, climbing fences, marriages, children, spiritual silence, random outrageous nudity, international travel, sexual introspection & discovery, musical parodies, never ending laughter, deep talks over hot rice......this and more is my BFF:  Jenutza!  This week she taught me about showing up BIG when you love someone and marking historical moments. Thank you, for coming to SLC, for playing and loving me so much!

Jenutza & I at my 1st HEADLINER gig at WISEGUYS Comedy Café

Inspired Musings ~ Eureka!

I AM • discovering laughter and playful opportunities everywhere • INSPIRED!

LLBC: Eat Mangoes Naked by Sark

LoveLuck Book Club October 2010 (Birthday Selection)

This book was suggested to me by a friend a few weeks ago & I decided to gift it to myself for my birthday (Halloween).  It just arrived & I'm so excited!  It is my day off & it's rainy as all get out = perfect for cuddling under a blanket and being transported via book adventure & imagination! Weeeeee...

The Last Laugh

I've been watching comedy videos lately (as homework).  This was the last one I watched tonight (hence the title of this blog).  From time to time, I'll post some of my faves.  Here's the 1st of many to come I hope you love it!

Falling in Self Love: Days 105 & 106 Soothing My Inner Scaredy Cat

Over the last two days I have been emotional.  I am excited and scared about some of the big things that are happening.  I am starting to see how I can actually have it all....it seems so silly that I would be afraid of this!  I think I've trained myself to complicate things so I have something to "figure out." What I have been learning over the last year was that I am amazing, simply, as ME!  (nervous smile)....I'm still getting use to this notion.  I've wanted to perform comedy for years. Some say I was born to do this.  When I finally decided to give it a go 6 years ago I went to a few open mics and started writing.  Soon enough I was ready to do longer sets.  So I rented spaces, invited people and held my own shows.  Tomorrow night I am opening at a professional comedy club and that feels very exciting to me.  I want to "kill 'em" (as they say in tha bizz = "do well") and garner a solo headliner spot.  This week I closed a few deals to lead laughter classes, workshops & series' so a lot is moving.  I am so very excited......

.....and created a funky upset with my girlfriend.  Hmm....there had to be something "to fix" right?  Anyhoo, we made up and now I'm at home being with my true feelings... "what if things DO WORK OUT" across the board...OMG!  :D  I am enjoying some cooking therapy.  Soup...b/c 'its just that time of year (mmm...love it)!

P.S. Did you ever notice that sacred & scared have the same letters....hmmm

LOL: Goldens & Dancing!

A friend sent me this video and it made me smile. Everyone knows I love golden retrievers, Latin styles of dancing & humor...so this is right up my alley! Enjoy!

US: Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" (Muppet Style)

A fun spin on an Unstoppable Song submission from a man in Salt Lake City, Utah

falling in Self ♥ • Day 37 • the bomb & tha bomb

PART I:  Ahhh the recovery from an awful performance night is slow and humbling.  I blew my set the other night on stage....BAD!  I'm not talking the kind of (arguably) unrealistic post event self-critique many artistes subject themselves to. I'm talking full on funny looks from the audience as if they were watching someone tumbling down a rocky hill. Oooooowph!  Anyway, it happens, I guess (my 2nd time in 6 years).  Nevertheless, I reviewed (um a number of times) what I could have done differently, got a bad night's sleep and decided (the next day) to "let it go."

PART II: What better remedy for the not so funnies...than the super funny! :D  Let's call it humor homeopathy ;)  I called up some friends (who had witnessed the comedic crash & burn) & invited them to see Despicable Me!  What a RIOT!  As if that wasn't enough fun... add a side dish of TOYS R US!  Yep, looking for gags, gifts & what people? U got it, TOYS! Good times in the store that once was my childhood fantasy (& my parents' nemesis on ANY car trip that took us by Valley Stream Mall).  Whatever, they're ok (now).  Funny, my fantasy store now, as an adult, still involves toys, go figure?  (Eh, don't judge me, we start out in diapers & end up in diapers, why not revisit the toy theme too)? Anyway... what scrum-deli-yum-cious friend date night would be complete with getting a sugar rush at one of my fave bakeries (in this salty lake town)....Gourmandise (250 South 300 East, SLC, UT)!  So a night of laughter was the sweet, literally, self-lovin' remedy!  Here's a gift for you...for love & laughs... enjoy!

I Don't Feel Like Laughing

I came across this video & it was so dang helpful...I wanted to share it!! LOL!

Soundtrack for a global movement

What song makes YOU feel UNSTOPPABLE?  This is a question I posed on my facebook page (May 25) while dreaming up the LIVE WELL, LAUGH A LOT! Tour.  I listened to the songs people posted and I was so moved, I wrote 5 new exercises for the Whole Body Laughter playshops!  Then I thought...what if I use THESE songs in my playshops and comedy shows while on tour? It could unify our nation through movement & good times ... it'd be a reminder that we have an unbreakable spirit!!  And so I've created this page  so folks worldwide can add their song(s) at will (I put a tab on the right sidebar for your future convenience).

I invite YOU to share the song that makes YOU feel UNSTOPPABLE! 

* Post a comment here with the link to the song or video on the web

-or-

* List the title & artist in the comment box
click here to listen to other people's songs!

Thanks for playing :D

 ... Mark your calendars for the ...

   Live Well, Laugh a Lot! Tour  

  USA Summer 2012 

Bringing to your town...

 Comedy Shows •  Laughter Yoga  •  Whole Body Laughter Improv Playshops 

PLUS, join us in dancing our cares away & celebrating love, life & prosperity at one of the  Unstoppable Dance Parties!

One attendee will take home 10% of the door.  It could be you!

(stay tuned for details on my website)

Everyday Joy w/ Jen Halterman

Good morning friends.  Today Jen & I are talking about the book 29 Gifts by Cami Walker.  Right now we are having breakfast and listening to Jen's new favorite song!   Join us on the radio!

LY for college administrators

~ A Poem by Rod Romboy ~
inspired by this class...

.

Laughter Yoga! What a treat.
Laughing out loud just can’t be beat

Whether a chuckle or a belly laugh
Welcome relief for a stressed out staff

Jumping around and yelling your lungs out
That’s what a fun workplace is all about.

Laughter Yoga, it should become
Required training for everyone!

LY (HLTH 1242) is now one of the required health class options at SLCC!