Tag Archives: laughter

Film Friday: Patching Up Families

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“Remember laughing? Laughter enhances the blood flow to the body’s extremities and improves cardiovascular function.” ~ Patch Adams

Happy Film Friday! Today’s featured movie is a throwback to 1998. Do you remember the film Patch Adams patch adams bookfeaturing Robin Williams?  The movie brought big smiles to a lot of faces, including sick children.

Did you know Patch Adams is not a fictional person? He is a doctor with a bigger than life personality – also a social activist, clown and an author. He also helped develop the Gesundheit! Institute in West Virginia. The Gesundheit! Institute is a “project in holistic medical care based on the belief that one cannot separate the health of the individual from the health of the family, the community, the world, and the health care system itself.” 

Patch adams house-callsThe Gesundheit! Institute does global outreach, and it is in the midst of planning a  Teaching Center that “will bring together artists, medical students, care practitioners, parents, and reformers to design positive ideas of health care systems, and ways to implement these ideas,” according to their website.

If your family hasn’t spent much time together lately due to the demands of life, mend things up by watching Patch Adams together, you’ll be in stitches. Robin Williams’ performance is wonderful – I highly recommend this film. Click here for info and ordering Patch Adams

Visit http://patchadams.org/campaign to read more about the concepts in holistic healing that are gaining in popularity all over the world, thanks to the Gesundheit! Institute.

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Have a good weekend. Return to http://www.allthingsfulfilling.com on Monday!

Stories Full of Blarney

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“The best blush to use is laughter: It puts roses in your cheeks and in your soul.”    ~Linda Knight 

It has been said kissing a stone can have the effect of giving someone the “gift of gab?” Did you know that?  Could be true, I suppose. After all, Winston Churchill visited the Blarney Stone in 1912 and he became one of best orators ever. 

Do you think there is any validity to the theory? I am not sure. After all, there have been people for hundreds of years who have kissed and vividly told. People have bent over backwards just to get a smooch, and paid a price to do it, too. Yet, they’ve never been to Ireland.. ..

blarney-stone1Case in point:  I have a friend who can talk up a storm, her name is Chatter. She’d tell you herself, back in her wild and crazy years as a college student, “she kissed many stones she’s walked on after a few too many green ales on St. Pattys Day.”  She’d say “she’s conversed face to face with plenty of frogs, too.”  If she tells you  “She got her ‘gift of gab’ from the famous Irish landmark,” it isn’t so. She’s always been full of Blarney.”

Her Irish heritage, has given her  genes to enjoy being the life of the party and be resilient too. She can find the humor in  all situations, including health issues.  God blessed me with her friendship, she’s one of my dearest friends.  In my heart of hearts, I hope some day, I get to visit Ireland with her to fulfill one of our wishes and start a new chapter, called Active Retirement! Then we will have even more stories to tell about our forty plus years of friendship, filled with laughter.

As an early St. Patty’s Day greeting, I’d like to send out blessings to all my friends and family.

I-rish you a very nice place to live,
I-rish God’s greatest gifts he’ll give.
I-rish you health, and wealth, and more–
I-rish your smilin’ face were at my door! ~ unknown

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May the luck of the Irish be with you today, and every day! Peace, love and a whole Lot more!

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Humor in Marriage and Friendship

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“Laughter is the best way to make somebody’s heart beat.” ~ Robert Holden 

 Happy Labor Day Monday – just a light-hearted subject this morning. Good to focus on fulfilling things other than publishing, every so often.

Don’t you love having life long friends? I have quite a number, but there is one friend who has brought more cheerful times and humor to my life than I can tell you. We met the first day I arrived on my college campus. Her nickname is “Chatterbox,” for good reason. More fittingly, however, her name should be “Chatter, the Character! ” She’s made of stuff that you read about.

The other day was Chatter’s 29th wedding anniversary, and much to my surprise, when I  went to her Facebook page to send her “Happy Anniversary Wishes” there was a picture of her all dressed up in the wedding dress she wore 29 years ago, complete with floral bouquet in hand. The dress still fit, she’s always been tall and slender.  I was bowled over with happiness and warm feelings when I saw the image. Nostalgic thoughts  came flooding back;  my twin sister and I were bridesmaids in her wedding. I’ll never forget when she left the reception for her honeymoon. She exited sitting on the back of a convertible, Jackie Kennedy Onassis style, as if in a parade, waving to the wedding crowd while her newly betrothed husband drove the car. It was something she said “she had been waiting to do her whole life.” 

Of course, as soon I saw the image she posted on Facebook the other day, I wrote a comment and an exchange of e-mails soon followed. Evidently, on the morning of her anniversary, she had awoken her husband of 29 years all dressed up in her gown. What pleasure  I felt in my heart when I saw her again in her wedding outfit; I can only imagine what the surprise did for her husband.

 Could this be a new trend for women who are celebrating their wedding anniversaries? A chance for ladies to wear those gowns every year, rather than only once in a lifetime. It might be healthy for marriage; bringing fulfilling memories back and a  reminder of what was promised.  What better motivation for women to maintain their  girlish figures – so they can fit into their gowns each year. Perhaps a way to reduce healthcare costs for women. 

Today, this blog is in honor of my friend Chatter! She has overcome adversity in her life, and a bout with cancer – always with dignity and honor and humor. 

Girlfriend – you are an inspiration! You remind me that laughter brings sweetness to life and friendship. I will see you next spring or early next summer as we have planned.

“Chat” and me at my niece’s wedding a year ago, October 2011.

Photo credit:  Erin Batton of eebphotography.blogspot.com

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