Staying Occupied: Laugh Until You Cry

Laugh until you cry … and then just cry … because you need to.

These are hard times and many of us are storing our emotions. We are staying strong for our children so they have (hopefully) less fear. We are staying strong for our spouse so that they can focus on work and still provide an income. We are staying strong for our parents by protecting them from the outside world.

Some of you may have already shed a few tears, slept for hours on end, or talked to your therapist. Others will insist that everything is ‘fine’ … but their back hurts or they are having more migraines than normal or they are having trouble sleeping.

Remember that it is ok to not feel fine. It is ok to feel sad … mad … frustrated … worried … scared … resentful … and it is also ok to feel relieved … grateful … and appreciative of what you have.

I know my body has been storing emotions; it hides in my neck, back, and hips. I feel them creep to the surface and then an imaginary lid appears and clamps it back down again. I’d prefer for them to come out and hang for awhile. Then my body and mind could be more productive.

This morning, my daughter asked me to curl up in the bed and watch the Walt Disney Short Films Collection on Netflix. Some shorts are dark and sad, others are romantic, but the last couple had me laughing so hard I was crying. And then those happy tears let the other tears flow for awhile too.

Please share what films or videos make you laugh until you cry. You can respond to this post or reach out through Social Media.

There are now three summary posts with helpful links: Staying Occupied posts, Helpful Links for Families, and Fitness links to keep you healthy.

Note: This series was created due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the requirement to practice social distancing and stay home as much as possible. I hope that despite all the closures and the crazy grocery store lines, you can still find opportunities to stay calm, enjoy the extra time with your loved ones, organize the areas that need to be addressed, and find something (book, movie, craft) to bring you enthusiasm. Choose to be as balanced as possible and stay healthy.