Ros Ben-Moshe, an author and adjunct lecturer at La Trobe University, studies the health benefits of laughter.  

She has done research on the healing power of laughter for elders in residential care facilities and dialysis patients. She writes books and leads programs on the connection between laughter and wellbeing.

Laughter is her life’s work. 

Then she got cancer. No laughing matter.

After surgery, her doctor explained that she could not laugh for several weeks. If she did, she’d risk tearing open her stitches.

To quote Alanis Morissette, “Isn’t it ironic?”

While recuperating, Ros had a moment of curiosity. 

“Could I experience the benefits of laughter … but without actually physically laughing?” 

She closed her eyes and gently placed a smile on her face. She visualized the warmth of that smile moving to her heart and then to her gut. Envisioning waves of gratitude radiating throughout her body, almost like ripples of laughter, even though she was still and quiet.

Upon opening her eyes, she noticed something interesting. For a moment, she was pain-free. She had activated her body’s natural pain management system, flooding her cells with endorphins.

She repeated this meditation the next day ... and the next. Ros credits this practice with helping her to survive one of the most challenging times in her life. 

We all have limits on our time, energy, money, minds, and bodies. Some, more so than others. But as Ros shows us, whatever the limitations may be, there is always a creative workaround. 

Think about something you want that feels out of reach. Perhaps it feels unattainable, too expensive, too far away, or physically impossible.

How could you have it anyway? 

Or at least, some version of it? 

Ros found a way to laugh without laughing. 

Each of us can find a way, too.

xo.

-Alex