Laughter and appreciation are perfect playmates. Laughter can buoy deflated morale and help our spirit soar. Appreciation helps us cultivate a sincere sense of giving to others. It reminds us of our innerconnectedness. Both are free, yet the effect they have is priceless.

Allison and Leigh lead Penguin Laugh

Recently, laughter and appreciation romped together during the closing session of the sixth annual CNA and Caregiver Appreciation Day, hosted by the Northwest Piedmont Area Agency on Aging. Certified Laughter Leaders Leigh Grimes and Allison Clark from Triad-area Kisco Senior Living communities invited participants into a laughter club playground to experience the healing power of laughter exercises. The effect was priceless.

Leigh Grimes Leads Vowel Laugh

You don’t have to wait for someone to host an Appreciation Day to bring laughter and appreciation together. Here’s a way my family schedules a play date for these two playmates at our Thanksgiving Day celebration. Between the feasting on turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings, we schedule an appreciation break before dessert. We gather everyone in a circle, young children and adults, friends and family. Everyone has a seat in the circle. We begin expressing appreciation to the person seated to the left of the host. Each person in the circle expresses a specific, sincere statement of appreciation to this person. Then we go around the circle until everyone has experienced an individual moment in the appreciation spotlight. The effect is priceless.

We’ve discovered appreciation has a way of inviting laughter and joy to come out and play. Plus, it helps us to understand our family and friends in a deeper way.

Let laughter and appreciation be your favorite playmates. This Thanksgiving, gather your family and friends into a circle of appreciation. The effect is priceless and there are none of the negative side effects of added calories. C’mon, Let’s Laugh…and express appreciation!

Leigh Grimes Energizes Group	Allison Clark leads Arnold Laughter Exercise