As Jews, we have a commandmant to be happy constantly. 'Ivdu es Hashem b'simcha.' If you have to be serving G-d all the time, and while we do that we must be happy, then that means happiness at all times.
We recently had a class on laughing therapy. Imagine someone teaching you how to laugh. I thought he was joking. Apparently, he was. But not about the class. The whole class, he told jokes, and tried to get us to laugh. He taught us different types of laughter, which are real, and which ones are fake.
I listened with only one ear. Some of the jokes were funny. But the whole time I was thinking, how does he expect to teach us how to laugh? It's not possible. Either you are in a good mood, and you feel like smiling, or you don't. It's as simple as that. Or is it..?
Did you ever play the smiling game? You sit in a circle, usually with a bunch of kids, and one starts off with the 'smile' in his hand. He needs to smile, pull it off, then throw it to someone else. If you don't have the 'smile', you are not allowed to smile. Usually, five minutes into the game, all the kids are smiling, and gigling hysterically. Because a smile is catchy.
When the miraglim returned from spying on Israel, and reported bad news, the Jews cried. G-d told them, I'll give you a reason to cry. Thus, we have Tisha Ba'av. Sadness is just the absence of joy. just like darkness, it is not an entity on it's own. That's why we need a reason to be sad, whereas with joy, there doesn't have to be a reason. If a child is laughing and dancing, we don't question it. It's natural behavior.
What do we do when we are in a bad mood? We had a bad day, things are not going right, and all we seem to be able to do is frown. People try to cheer me up, but I don't want to smile. I want to sit here in the dark, being miserable, all by myself. The darkness is like a black hole. Literally. It sucks you in, until you can't get out.
When I am in a bad mood, it's hard to believe that it will soon pass, and that I will be happy once again. Once the bad mood passes, I can't remember why I was ever upset.
If it is true that we don't need a reason to be happy, then we should be happy all the time. Take your mind off your problem. Never dwell on it, that just makes it worse, gives it strength. Put on music, get outside, take a walk, breath in the fresh air, and smile.
There are so many reasons to smile. Thank G-d I am healthy. I have a loving family, and caring friends, and so many blessings that I forget at times.
>One erev Shabbos, I looked up at the sky, at the setting sun, and I felt to at peace with myself, with the world. The sky was turning gorgeous colors, and I thanked G-d for His wonderful creations.
Unfortunately, with all the problems in the world today, we do need a reason to be happy, to forget about all the pain and suffering. When a tragedy happens, it's hard to move on, to be happy again, to stop grieving. But that's what we must do, because G-d commanded us.
Once a year, on purim, we are commanded to be extra happy. To strip away our layers, let ourselves go, and just be b'simcha. It's not easy. Some people need a little wine to let themselves go. Or a mask. Hiding behind a mask does wonders to our personality. Try it. You feel like a stranger.
Just smile. Just be happy. We don't need a reason to be happy. It's free! Don't be like the Jews of long ago, and cry for no reason. We don't need to give G-d a reason for more suffering.
I wish everyone a VERY happy purim, filled with blessings, and joy. Use this day to it's fullest, take advantage of it. Push away the darkness, the sadness, let yourself go, and just be happy!
Drink a little, laugh a lot, put a smile on someone's face. And may we celebrate Purim this year together, in the beis hamikdash, with Moshiach, and lots of joy!!
We recently had a class on laughing therapy. Imagine someone teaching you how to laugh. I thought he was joking. Apparently, he was. But not about the class. The whole class, he told jokes, and tried to get us to laugh. He taught us different types of laughter, which are real, and which ones are fake.
I listened with only one ear. Some of the jokes were funny. But the whole time I was thinking, how does he expect to teach us how to laugh? It's not possible. Either you are in a good mood, and you feel like smiling, or you don't. It's as simple as that. Or is it..?
Did you ever play the smiling game? You sit in a circle, usually with a bunch of kids, and one starts off with the 'smile' in his hand. He needs to smile, pull it off, then throw it to someone else. If you don't have the 'smile', you are not allowed to smile. Usually, five minutes into the game, all the kids are smiling, and gigling hysterically. Because a smile is catchy.
When the miraglim returned from spying on Israel, and reported bad news, the Jews cried. G-d told them, I'll give you a reason to cry. Thus, we have Tisha Ba'av. Sadness is just the absence of joy. just like darkness, it is not an entity on it's own. That's why we need a reason to be sad, whereas with joy, there doesn't have to be a reason. If a child is laughing and dancing, we don't question it. It's natural behavior.
What do we do when we are in a bad mood? We had a bad day, things are not going right, and all we seem to be able to do is frown. People try to cheer me up, but I don't want to smile. I want to sit here in the dark, being miserable, all by myself. The darkness is like a black hole. Literally. It sucks you in, until you can't get out.
When I am in a bad mood, it's hard to believe that it will soon pass, and that I will be happy once again. Once the bad mood passes, I can't remember why I was ever upset.
If it is true that we don't need a reason to be happy, then we should be happy all the time. Take your mind off your problem. Never dwell on it, that just makes it worse, gives it strength. Put on music, get outside, take a walk, breath in the fresh air, and smile.
There are so many reasons to smile. Thank G-d I am healthy. I have a loving family, and caring friends, and so many blessings that I forget at times.
>One erev Shabbos, I looked up at the sky, at the setting sun, and I felt to at peace with myself, with the world. The sky was turning gorgeous colors, and I thanked G-d for His wonderful creations.
Unfortunately, with all the problems in the world today, we do need a reason to be happy, to forget about all the pain and suffering. When a tragedy happens, it's hard to move on, to be happy again, to stop grieving. But that's what we must do, because G-d commanded us.
Once a year, on purim, we are commanded to be extra happy. To strip away our layers, let ourselves go, and just be b'simcha. It's not easy. Some people need a little wine to let themselves go. Or a mask. Hiding behind a mask does wonders to our personality. Try it. You feel like a stranger.
Just smile. Just be happy. We don't need a reason to be happy. It's free! Don't be like the Jews of long ago, and cry for no reason. We don't need to give G-d a reason for more suffering.
I wish everyone a VERY happy purim, filled with blessings, and joy. Use this day to it's fullest, take advantage of it. Push away the darkness, the sadness, let yourself go, and just be happy!
Drink a little, laugh a lot, put a smile on someone's face. And may we celebrate Purim this year together, in the beis hamikdash, with Moshiach, and lots of joy!!
BS"D
ReplyDeleteStrange hashgocho protis - as I read your post, "Schmeichel" (Smile) by Shloime Gertner is playing on the online radio...
but for laughing therapy one must attend the laughing academy a/k/a the funny farm.