I love puzzles and brainteasers. They invite my mind to frolic with the dots outside of the box, to make uncommon links, to create new meanings.

There’s another reason I love puzzles and brainteasers. When I solve the mystery, unravel the word jungle or reveal a pattern, I feel brilliant. The thrill of an “Ah Ha!” moment rushes positive energy from the tips of my toes to the crown of my head. Laughter erupts as joy expresses through me. Recently, a vanity license plate delivered an encounter with a brainteaser.

I was minding my own business, staying alert in the flow of interstate traffic. You know the scene: three lanes of SUVs, GMC trucks, 18 wheelers, Hummers, luxury cars, PT Cruisers, an occasional limo, and standard cars attempting to salsa at 75+ miles per hour, darting in and out, swerving around drivers traveling the posted speed limit.

That’s when delight showed up in the form of a brain teaser. A small compact car darted into the open space in front of my SUV. Before it sped away, I caught a glimpse of the license plate. OUIRONE. My brain raced into action to decode the cryptic message.

O? Could it be Oh? Owe?
U? Could it be You?
I? Could it be eye? I?
R? Could it be are?
O-N-E? Ah ha, bet it’s one.

Could it be “Oh, you, eye are one?”
Nope, doesn’t make sense.

What about “Oh, You, I are one?”
Huh?

Ah ha – combine O-U-I. A French word pronounced “we.” It means yes!

Hmm, that’s a clever twist.
Is it “Yes are one?”
No way. Doesn’t click.

Eureka! I’ve got it!
“We are one.”

That’s it!
“We are one!”

Not only was I feeling brilliant, I laughed and shouted “Oui, Oui, Oui!” all the way home.

Imagine what can happen if each of us chooses to embrace this “We are one!” message? What if we set an intention to let each thought, word and deed be a reflection of our oneness with each other? Could we become messengers of peace?

In laughter club, we do a laughter exercise that can help each of us focus our intention on peace. This laughter exercise originated in India as the One Meter Laugh, a combination of arm movement with laughter syllables. One meter is the length of distance typically used by someone who is measuring cloth. The laugh was adapted to western tradition and called the Bow and Arrow Laugh. In my laughter club sessions, we call it the Eye on the Target Laugh and use it to help us stay focused on our goals.

Place your weight on your left leg. Put your right foot in front of left foot, toes pointed forward, knee slightly bent. Pretend you are holding a bow in your left hand. Focus your attention on your make-believe target (peace on earth). With your right hand, pull the string back in a gradual motion, using three strokes. With each motion say “ha.” When your right hand is at your shoulder, as if the string on your bow is tight and you’re ready to release the arrow, throw your right hand into the air over your shoulder like you’ve released the arrow, and say “ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.” To end the exercise, laugh a hearty “ha-ha-ha,” like you’re expressing the triumph of hitting a bull’s eye.

As a new year unveils its many opportunities, let your mind frolic in thoughts of peace on earth. Choose to take aim at being a messenger of peace and remember to let laughter be your constant companion. C’mon, Let’s Laugh!