LAUGHING

Greetings! Ever think you’ll never get through childrearing, or anxiety, or just plain life? Ever think your kids are the worst behaved and no one else goes through those embarrassing moments? Just wait until you hear these real-life experiences. You CAN get through the tough spots in life. In fact, it’s been my experience that when I face the tough spots and laugh over them, they don’t control me as much. A few years ago I was a bewildered mom watching a talk show about “Raising Strong-willed Children.” Two voices of authority were offered: a Child Psychologist who presented his typical theories – and produced no life in me whatsoever, and an average mom who had been through this trauma and had gotten through to the other side. Every word from this mom’s mouth was like gold to me – she actually made sense. There was a way to raise this child into a productive citizen without screaming the rest of my life away! That’s when the light bulb burst on. The ones who have made it through to the other side are the ones to listen to! YOUR stories help us to understand we are not alone, and that we can get through it, sometimes by Laughing All the Way! If you’re willing to share your funny, uplifting or miraculous story, and possibly see it in print, we would love to see if we can use it in this series. Submit your story at www.laughingalltheway.net - and enjoy the site! I truly hope it brings you laughter and hope. My best, Christy Laughing

Hi! My name is Sophy Laughing. I changed my last name to 'Laughing' because that's how I want to spend the rest of my life, how I want to leave the world, As my name suggests, I believe there is great wisdom in humor. The beauty of comedy is its subjectivity. There's something for everyone. It ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous, from the confidence of youth to the sobering central period of life, to the early luncheons hosted by silver-haired ladies, to one's ability to embrace Cicero's greatest contribution to the world, On A Life Well Spent. The lethal effects of life have affected me, but nothing as much as humor. Humor is an innovative solution, once you can find a problem to go with it. There's much to be explored in the field of humor, from the physics of humor, to humor's ability to heal the mind and the body, both. Humor lassos up eastern and western thought, and propels us back to the beginning of time. Ancient hieroglyphic symbols for laughing and jokes were shared thousands of years ago. There are biblical references to laughing, the Greek city-states inherited a tradition of professional humor from the Hitties, the pompous, bridge-building toga wearing Roman's, The Laughter Lover, dating back to the third or fourth century AD, contains some 260 jokes on stereotypes - the 'Å"egghead', or absent-minded professor, was particularly funny, as was the eunuch, and people with hernias or bad breath. I can hear Homer's gods from the Iliad, laughing now... From Chaucer to King Alfred to Shakespearian lines so lovely they make the senses tingle, the worlds' recognition of humor reflects the genius beheld in the levitational farce field. Henri Bergson, Immanuel Kant, Soren Kierkegaard, and even Freud recognized the power held in making others laugh. Jean-Paul Satre said that making people laugh 'Å"saved (his) life.' Being able to laugh saved my life!

My name is Katie, I’m a senior at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., majoring in Communication and Journalism with a minor in Psychology. I love writing, laughing, music, boys and playing outside. My mom thinks I’m “Tina Fey” funny so now I guess I just have to prove my wit to the rest of the world.

I am an ERYT Hatha Yoga Instructor and Studio Owner of Pure Intention Yoga in Brooklin, Ontario. I am also a Published Author with numerous articles in print. I have co-authored the powerful, spiritual, self-help book LIFE: Living in Fulfillment Every Day and am now working on my latest creation, a historical novel called Raven’s Blood. When I am not writing, I am looking after my incredible children, hanging out with my wonderful husband, walking my two adorable dogs, dancing, laughing and having fun.

Love life, Love laughing, Love loving.

Married, son, mortgage. Paramedic in a busy urban system for over eleven years. I enjoy humor, it keeps us all young, and laughing at morbidity has kept me going in a field where it's all too easy to let the evil of man overcome you.

Texas born, Florida bred. A student of everything. When something piques my interest, I can't stop reading until I'm an expert. I constantly seek knowledge. Laughing is the best feeling ever, and I try to find funny in everything.

Former newspaper editor/reporter and is currently a photographer. He's been writing for about 10 years.

My Name is Emma. I love singing, laughing and cheese. I live in Washington and grew up in two cities my entire life. I love WA because it has the ocean, mountains, a desert and a rainforest all in one state.

I am a student pursuing my Masters in Microbiology. I am very keen on writing about different things, whose knowledge I possess. I am a person who, at any point of time during my life, would like to share my knowledge.

Born in San Diego. Moved to Washington State after 6th grade. Moved back to California a year ago. This will be my first year attending college and I strongly believe laughing cures all mild maladies.

i just got out of the working grind of my own business and am now a full time father/diaper changer. i want nothing more than to be able to watch my son grow and laugh my butt off as he is laughing his off.

I am 29 years old. I enjoy writing, laughing, and making others laugh. So if you can read, make a joke, or pretend to find me funny - we should get along great. I have been a freelance writer for more than 5 years, and I enjoy the freedom and flexibility that comes with it.

Meowing about sports, entertainment, and issues.

Grew up in a family oriented type environment, dysfunctional a little but interesting, I've always drawn, written or done something musical I'd be bored to death if I didn't. I love laughing it is one of the best medicines someone can create.

I am about things I enjoy, laughing until it hurts, short walks, long talks and sitting in the comforting silence you can only find with an old friend or a good book. I try to learn from everything I do and everyone I meet. Subtle as a sledge hammer I tend to speak my mind,

Writer/ Music Critic/ Student Can start laughing on request. What more could one want?

I am old enough to know better, yet young enough to take chances. I have a background in I.T., family, friends, love, depression, bliss, anger, joy, crying, laughing, & much more. I put the right combination of my experiences into each piece I write.

27 year old aircraft mechanic in the coast guard, majored in many many things in college yet still have yet to get a degree, love to be outdoors, need sunshine and fresh air in order to survive, am ALWAYS laughing and smiling and apparently have a very bouncy walk, matches m

born in a log cabin,i always wanted to be a standup comic in germany;i figured that if the germans were laughing,that the world would be a safer place to live in

I am happy and i enjoy laughing till my belly hurts. 'Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect it just means you have decided to look beyond the imperfections...' I enjoy small feet.

My name is Lisa and I am a Recovering Catholic. I am 40 years old and married with three kids two of whom are teenagers. Please stop laughing. I live in Southern Vermont; the state where being naked in public is legal. I am a fulltime student at Nyack College in Albany NY an

Free and Deep Spirited Person...Funny too and like laughing a lot too although i get serious at times

I am a Nepali journalists, have hade more than 5 years work experience in the same field. I am also studying master course in Mass Communication and Journalism. I love reading, writing and laughing. I live in Kathmandu but I am watching world!

I'm a girl who loves the simple things in life; such as a pretty flower, a child laughing, a breath taking view and so much more. I adore human interaction and getting to know as many people as possible on a personal level. People say I'm a good listener.

My name is Melissa Hong and I've lived in Fremont, California for most of my life. I love laughing and enjoying every moment of life. I love expressing myself through writing, figure skating and dance.

Kathleen Livingston is the mother of three, wife of one (are you laughing, hope so). She is a fiber artist who shows her talents in quilts and other sewn garments. She's been a published author for over 14 years.

Lara has traveled and worked all over Eastern Europe and is currently working on schemes to spend more time in Asia. Any free time she has is spent laughing at her own jokes and searching out the best food in her native San Francisco.

Grew up with 3 younger sisters, 1 mom and 1 dad Anderson University, 2004: BA English literature, minor in writing Enjoy music, reading, learning design, boarding Love rain/thunderstorms, laughing, Philip Would have a pet if my landlady would allow it