Life is better when you...

are laughing

“Laughter is a sunbeam of the soul.” ~ Thomas Mann

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Life is better when you…

I will let you fill-in-the-blank for yourself. For me there can be many answers…

Life is better when you…

…are spending time with those you love.

…live in the moment.

…embrace your God-given gifts.

…accept what you can’t control.

…are kind to yourself and others.

…share your life with a beloved pet.

…are fishing on a quiet lake.

…take chances and step outside the box.

…are deep in prayer or meditation.

…get a good night’s sleep.

…are immersed in your favorite sports or hobbies.

…are baking or cooking family recipes.

…don’t judge a book by its cover.

…take care of yourself both physically and emotionally.

The list can go on and on…

This week I focused on one of my many answers - finding humor every day as often as possible.

Life is better when you…are laughing.

I tried to start my day with laughter by watching either a stand-up comedian or an episode of a comedy series I have taped.

I got back into reading one of Nora Ephron’s books and watching my favorite episodes of The Office or The Vicar of Dibley.

Spending time with family and friends, on the phone, through FaceTime or in person and absorbing all of that positive energy. Those who know me well have experienced my sense of humor and sharing it with those who care about me definitely makes my day brighter.

And during the week I had wonderful conversations with co-workers and parishioners at Grace church. It’s one of the many reasons I love working there - sharing laughs and smiles.

The world we live in can very easily become overwhelming. There is so much chaos, noise, negativity…that we find ourselves getting pulled too much into the spirals those create and we forget about all of the other positive choices we can make.

And it starts by remembering your fill-in-the-blank answers to a very simple phrase…

Life is better when you….

And then choosing to actually focus on doing just that…

For information about why I started this newsletter, please go to the about section.

Tranquil Moments…

I asked my niece, Jennifer Malphy, if she could share some of her nature photos with my newsletter audience. Each week I will feature a new photo. Here is this week’s:

Photo by Jennifer Malphy.

This week’s Smile video…

The football team at Bowling Green State University was down on its luck and in bad need of change, when along came a kitty catalyst. Steve Hartman goes “On the Road” for the story.

#believe #stevehartman #smilevideos

More with Storycorps…

Sanitation workers Angelo Bruno and Eddie Nieves worked together for nearly ten years on the same garbage route in Manhattan’s West Village and became fixtures in the community. After 31 years on the job, Angelo retired. At StoryCorps, he talked with Eddie about the unexpected lessons he learned along the way and what he still misses about the job.

Photo memories…

“We take photographs as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone…”

I love this photo of my mother and my son, sharing a smile and a memory at a family wedding many years ago.

Mind/Body connections…

Unwind with Louise Hay’s soothing night meditation. This guided session encourages releasing daily stress and embracing positive thoughts. Prepare for restful sleep with affirmations promoting self-love and forgiveness.

Comedy Lift…

I love to share funny cartoons or memes with friends and family. Who doesn’t need to smile? Here’s this week’s Comedy Lift…

Music Moments

Music inspires me in many ways. Here's Kermit the Frog singing Rainbow Connection.….Enjoy!

Quote of the week

Until next week. Please remember…Begin and end each day with a grateful heart…and always, always be kind….

The Kindness Boomerang newsletter is a 2025 recipient of the Sunshine Blogger Award.