Experience has shown that connecting has always been one of the “good things” in life. Connecting with family, friends, colleagues, and clients provide special moments for each of us. Many are memorable, allowing us to laugh, to cry, to share, to grow.
In my very mobile lifestyle, pre-pandemic, of course, I didn’t often have the luxury of spending extended periods of time with family. And during this current time of isolation, I thought back, over the years about those occasions I was able to spend a bit of extended time with family.
My mom lived to be 101. She was my best friend, my greatest cheerleader, my mentor and role model, and the voice in my head, sometimes soft and more often not, that helped through a time of decision. When she was 92, she had shoulder surgery. I journeyed to California to be with her during surgery. During the 4-5 days that I spent there, I spent a night with mom (BS – “before surgery”), and one with each of 2 sisters and a niece. It was an enlightening time for me to reconnect and reminded me of the need we have to share laughter, especially during times of stress.
Much has been written about the positive, healing effects of laughter, so the fact that my siblings and I were kicked out of mom’s hospital room for being too rowdy and laughing too loud was one of those “good things.”
Chatting with my younger brother on the phone (he lived in Anchorage, Alaska) “BS” was another “good thing.” Growing up as preacher’s kids we all developed our own particular brands of faith and philosophy over the years. David chose to pray for mom over the phone. In his concern, he managed to pray for her by name, every name: Dorothy, Dorothy Kilpatrick, Dorothy Leek, and Mom. Then the telephone connection developed some static and after a somewhat lengthy pause with no sound, I heard David saying “Hello, hello . . . are you there?” I said, “You talking to me or God?” The laughter once again was present, relieving the stress of the day and providing another “good thing” as we connected over time and space.
What kind of “good things” in your life, your team, or your organization are allowing you to connect through laughter? Hopefully, there are many for you to enjoy, to build stories around, and to share with others. We all need to laugh more. It’s good for us and it’s FUN! It is especially good for us during these challenging times of COVID-19, isolation, masks, sickness and in way too many cases, death.
Connecting and sharing our moments have always held special meaning for me. In my opinion, life is way too short not to enjoy the lighter side of our moments together. What moments of laughter can you share? What lessons have you learned lately working from home, “teaching” your children, visiting for business or pleasure via Zoom?
