What is life without laughter? I have been told that laughter is the best medicine. I pondered on that for a very long time. Years to be exact. I researched the effects of true joy in comparison to medications used to induce it. I didn't quite understand what the phrase really meant. How can smiling be life changing? How is it possible to find difficult things to be easier when you are filled with humorous emotions inside? Aren't challengers’ hard obstacles to overcome regardless of what emotions you feel? These are the types of thoughts that made me think deeper and deeper. "When a hurdle becomes a quest that is easy to overcome then you must be winning somehow," I wondered in stillness.
Time went by and one day unexpectedly, during this recent festive season, the penny finally dropped. Naturally, the chemical composition of our respective bodies are designed to withstand many things that may initially appear to be threatening. What your core values rely on, however, draws the essence of what your perception becomes regardless of the situation or circumstance.
This construct rang true in tangible terms on Christmas Day. I decided that instead of doing my usual selfless service i.e. Seva, that I would deck my home's halls and spend the special day with those whom I hold dear, instead. After all, home is where the heart is. A small intimate gathering took place on my deck and my guests brought their jolliest boughs of holly and dressed in their cheeriest holiday apparel. It was an enchanting time filled with love, laughter and the lightest chitter chatter. Hours went by so quickly and the weather was amazing too. A perfect summer’s day, I would say.
At the end, something misfortunate happened, which was an accident that brought about a bit of panic. As unpleasant as what it was, we all knew deep down that everything would be joyous once more because even when we may think that things are broken, we remember that anything can be restored. We know that in our heart of hearts, all we want for each other is the best and therefore we can grapple the harshest of truths with a sense of ease because again, when our collective efforts stem from a place of pure joy, where the one is weak, no doubt, the rest will stand strong and lend that helping hand where need be. What a comforting epiphany this is.
In that moment Jay Shetty shared a post that read: "It does not matter what's under the Christmas tree. What matters is who's around it."
Knowing this and going through the rest of the festive and into the New Year, is the grounding that was needed to cement a solid understanding that moving forth is to entail a sincere smile because with pure joy i.e. real happiness comes the strength to endure anything; thus to do more than survive and rather to thrive.
I have learnt that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel; as Maya Angelou did. I am therefore convinced that what is more important than a great first impression, is the entirety of the engagement specifically more so the ending because this is what leaves the lingering residue of what your presence projected and the emotions it impacts.
As the hallways of my deck echoed with the precious sound of the giggles coming from those whom I respect, love, trust and admire—I realised that sometimes when things may seem dire, the solution is always to inspire. Sing together heedless of the windy weather, and be with your chosen birds of a feather, try your very best not to fall whilst having a ball and most importantly... merrily deck the halls.
Deck the Halls by EJ for EJblogtv
an Enjoyment Journal about Everything EJ
xoxo