What a gas!  I laughed outloud, slapped my knees, stomped, laughed behind my hand, like a penquin, like a lion…it was fun! In the end I realized that I was sweating, had stomach muscles I hadn’t used in awhile, and my hands were all tingling, my lungs were happy. It takes serious humor to an all new level!

Check out www.laughterclubs.com for more information.  At this Bellingham club meeting, I got to meet to Laughter Masters (believe it or not), and heard how a woman, Mary Lou, has been pioneering a whole laughter program at a local elementary school.  I will check it out and get back to you with information about what she is doing.

I also was told that a great resource is the American School of Laughter Yoga that was pioneered by Sebasian Gendry.  Check it out.  It is good for you…and I endorse it wholeheartedly.

It actually makes sense when you understand the chemistry of the body-mind-spirit and how it affects optimal performance.  It would be especially good used in tandem with Flipping the Joy Switch techniques. It would be part of the whole body reconditioning process and it would help develop the speed with which you can change.  Go and have fun!

And it’s a gas to learn how to laugh on purpose!  For your health no less.  It is a workout, too.  Your stomach, lungs, and body get exercise believe it or not.  I went to a meeting last night…and it was really funny to hear how people laugh, and how it doesn’t take a joke to make it happen.

UnitingCreatives.com is a collaborative website put together by a team of hardy enterprising souls.

It is a new idea in social media that I hope will take the models pioneered by Facebook, MySpace and Biznik to the next level:  to develop a new conversation around community business  that works.

It is where “we the people” can gather to talk about how to creatively change the future through revisioning it, defining the world we want to see, and gathering human and intellectual resources to make it happen, encouraging initiative and mentoring people to take action.

It is not a site where you waste time on social chitchat, or on complaining, arguing or overdramatizing.  it is not for emotionalizing, sensationalizing, or hyper-connecting.

It is a place of courage…where we will have fun as we learn how to:

• Use technology to bridge the gap from the past to the future as we deal with the complex issues of job loss, industry upheaval, globalization, environmental decay and turn it into rejuvenation, revitalization, regeneration and reconstruction.
• Team up across platforms to apply the skills of brainstorming, masterminding, sharing and compassion to our real lives in our community.
• Share our dreams and resources.
• Learn how to trust each other to give their best, to share their hearts and desires, to give what they can to make the world a better place.

I call it ‘intentional social media‘ – an alternative to old media.  It is time it showed up, so that we humans can show up for change!  Hurray!

Five LIVE 50-minute calls!

Topics and skills include:

• Introductory session “Using Joy Energy to increase your Personal Energetic Power (PEP)”
• Are you constructing or de-constructing right now?
• Spike the catecholamines:  change your status
• Release resistance:  breathe Joy in
• Increase listening:  change your questions
• Change behavior:  swap hats or roles
• Revitalize core:  refresh body-mind-spirit

Plus two private 30-minute consulting calls:  one at the start to establish your intention and uncover your most common StoryTrap, and one after the last call to check in for competency

But that’s not all!  You’ll also receive:

• Free copy of Flipping the Joy Switch DVD
• The Joy Triangle Model free report
• Free companion e-book

January 12 – February 9, 2010 – Tuesdays at 3:30 pm PST – $397

January 12 – February 9, 2010 – Tuesdays at 6:30 pm PST – $397

(All product sales are through Intentional Media Productions.)

This 45 minute DVD is highly relevant and timely inspirational cinema that addresses real challenges we face today.

It’s focused on personal growth tools for building emotional intelligence to take control of your life.  You’ll also hear several people talking about how they changed their lives by consciously changing their perspectives.

(All product sales are through Intentional Media Productions.)

It drains the five great lakes of the North American Continent…flowing out to the Atlantic Ocean! To me that is like seeing the water flush through the kidneys of Mother Earth.

My friend, Loretta, and I got to go underground in a tunnel behind the waterfalls where all we could see was the water thundering down in front of us…shooting back up, going sideways!  The ionization effect was like a jolt of energizing sizzle to our cells!  Incredible.  The smell was awesome – totally refreshing!

At high season over 34 millions gallons of water a minute – right now only about 19 million at the end of summer!  It is stunning in its power!  Invigorating!  I was spellbound and magnetized!

There are two falls actually next to each other…one called the American Falls, one the Canadian or Horseshoe Falls.  The border and an island divides them.  We took a tour boat down to the bottom of the falls…and the amount of water spray simply drenched us for the water drops over 45′ and then creates a riot of currents below.  The depth at the base is over 54′.  My heart overflowed with love of the richness of nature!  Awesome.

It means so much to me to be able to feel such magnificence.  I am so proud of the Canadian and American governments for preserving this park and making it so people can safely get up close and personal with it.  It is an honor to be allowed to connect with Mother Earth.

Then I ask a straightforward question like, “Where is Lake Ontario from here, how far is it?”

Delighted to help, they answer, “Once you get to the subway station, it is twenty minutes to downtown, then you have to either walk or take a bus.”  They smile, pleased with themselves, happy to have the right answer.

Go figure.  To me, that is no answer at all. I still have no idea how far it is or where from here.  I did not realize that I am completely out of context.  I am a country girl.  I want to know what direction it is -  North, South, East, or West.  I want to know how many miles it is from where I am standing right now.  They have no idea I am lost in the city.  I need orientation…landmarks.  That is how I get my bearings.

So I ask the clarifying question…what direction is it?  How many miles to where the lake is?  They look at me dumbfounded.  They have no idea.  I look at them dumbfounded.  They don’t know where they are.  They are in the city…and everything they know is relative to the subway.  They live by commuting underground.  I realize they have no idea where the sun rises and sets…they can’t see it because there are skyscrapers all around. They have no idea how many miles…they can’t travel that way.  There are highways, and subways and cross overs.

Wow.  Do you know, I have been in the city for over a week now, and I still have no idea how far I am from Lake Ontario? I’ve even seen it by train, but I have no idea where it is.

Context.  It matters in communicating effectively.

It is an irony.  This person is still a great person, and so are all the other people I have asked the same question of.  None of them give me the answer I seek.

Now, think that is funny?  Here is another.  Right now I am looking at a city map…and there is no mileage scale, or no North-South Direction finder on it.  It appears that it is irrelevant.

Who are these wonderful people who are just like me?  Where am I?  I laugh every time I go anywhere.  I have no idea…and neither do they.  It’s all relative.  Relative to the system we think by…relative to our childhood upbringing…relative to the time, place and context we are in.

We have a good time anyway.  Nice folks.  Fun conversation.  And, before I leave, I am determined to find out where and how far I am from Lake Ontario.  I have an idea…but it will take a bit more sleuthing.

I’m off on another adventure.  I will be leaving in the middle of the night on Monday (or nearly) to head to Toronto until mid-November.

I’ll be visiting a dear friend, using the time to write and produce reports, books, and new seminars.

I’ll stay in touch by blog, and will be adding items to our new websites as they become available!

I just returned from a visit with potential collaborator’s in San Francisco, and am excited about all the upcoming products we’ll be sharing with you…stay tuned!