Laughter is a physiological response that involves rhythmic and involuntary action, and
denotes merriment, happiness, or joy. Over the past several years countless studies have
been conducted that show the positive effects that laughing has on one’s physical and mental
health. It is said that laughter is like a touch, it is a way of communicating without words. It
is often a more effective way to communicating, that with words. We have all heard the edge,
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” It is amazing to know that laughter
makes learning more easily. Thinking of my favourite teacher on campus, and I am most
likely of a cheerful Mr. Williams aka Mr Sketel, my sociology lecture. This is because laughter
made learning easier. No one would seat in that class and not find himself or herself wiping
their wet eyes after the man crack hilarious joke. The laughter approach, research shows, is
much better than the poker faced approach to teaching.
So this holiday season I spend it with brothers of Mustard Seed community in the rural area
of Jamaica. I actually call this place, bush because it is like 35 minutes’ drive to the nearest
small town that is near. The road to the house is dusty and only handful of houses along the
road far from each other. We are in the middle of nowhere in this beautiful place that to me
is heaven. Whenever I come here, I am at peace, I do what I most like, cooking, reading,
writing and definitely sleeping. But there is something that stands out in this community of
four men, three in formation and one who ‘acts’ as their father. Apart from doing things in
common, working among the poorest of the poor, praying together, driving around together
living in the same house, and many other part of their lives they do it in common, something
that amazes the society today that is all about I, ME AND MYSELF. But still there is
something even more that I have found to makes me have this sense of belonging……..
LAGHTER ON THE TABLE.
Brothers have mainly two meals together, breakfast and dinner and in both meals, they
spend tremendous time not eating, but chatting, talking, discussing, arguing, joking and the
chain can go on and on. Since I started coming here I go on the table not because am hungry
but what will take place there makes me feel more energetic to live my vocation.
Where I stay, I am well known to be never a community person. Boring community that is all
about receiving and giving nothing is not my cup of tea. Sometime I wonder, why I should
seat down eat and laugh with these men whom I am not even sure if their laughter is real and
honest. But me staying among these me for now three weeks, just as their name is ‘Mustard
Seed’ I have stated to grow little interest in being around people laughing.
Today I thought of it deeply because there was a lot of laugher on the table and bam, lyrics
stated to flow. Why do I need to laugh when school is stressing me, life itself and people
around are so hurting and never genuine? No truth, all is lies and lies, fake smiles and fake
laughter that makes fake people, why can’t I can just be myself, by myself and do what I have
to do. But ooh yes, we are in a world where very few things can make people laugh, while a
million can make them frown, howl, cry and lemon faced. Many of us lose track of the
therapeutic values of laugher when stress, step backs of life and adversity knock at our door.
Sometime one may wonder, why should I laugh? It does not pay no bill, what is it for? All
this is because our today society teaches that problems are serious and need to be addresses
seriously. Laugher, on the other hand, is often perceived as frivolous and only relevant in its
proper time and place, especially when all is well. When I was growing up, during funeral
ceremony, or visiting the sick there was not supposed to be laugher. Because laugher was
paired with happiness alone

In life, and I am not that old to have all the experience, I am coming to understand that
there is a different ways to look at this. Laughter in the face of adversity may not be able to
pay once bill, but it will teach equanimity. It is not about strength, but courage, because it is
about letting go. Only one who knows how to create a balance between the favourable and
unfavourable situations can maintain mental balance and composure. Life is not always fun,
but it certainly is much more fun with laughter than without.
Practices such as laughter wellness help us feel at peace and good about oneself in the
present moment, for no particular reason. They give one the ability to laugh at things that
previously would have anger, along with the ability to experience a new sense of forgiveness.
The other day one of the guys I stay with started an argument since I refused to eat the food
he cooked, as I said I am not a community person especially where one is always stretching
hands to receive and less or no hand to give. Anyway…. this man bad mind made me bust
laughter that helped me not punch his nose. And as my character, I use the very word he
used against him and it because a big joke to laugh at.
Staying with the brothers here has helped me a lot. I am reminded that, when I change…….
the world around me changes too. When I feel good, I am more likely to address the
challenges I have to face constructively and with a positive attitude.
When I come in this house, I come because I was mentally breaking down, I wanted to give
up, I was in a toxic place that I am still and I cannot do anything to come out. I wanted to
disappear from the world and coming here changed my way of looking things.
Truly, the power is all is within me ….. within each one of us, to laugh when we want to,
because we want to. We can train ourselves to react positively in the face of adversity.
Whatever happens to us, whether pleasant or unpleasant, does not matter at all. Nerve
impulse are just that = nerve impulse. They mean nothing.
2021, I am choosing to remain positive and be comfortable with my imperfections and the
challenges in my life does not mean I have to be complacent about them. I will not. But
laughing with friends is a thing am going to improve this year. Laughing about my own weak
points especially in a way that will lead me to maturity, for I will know which stone to step on
next time. Truly laugher is a political act, a declaration of freedom, a demonstration that we
are not afraid, that we refuse to let fear, anger, guilt or resentment win and rule over my very life.