“I take so many pills these days,” I recently told a family member, “that I rattle when I walk.”
Instead of feeling sad for me, or being concerned about my health, she broke out in peals of laughter,
right there in the middle of the store. I like to pretend I say these funny things on purpose, but learning
to look at the positive side of things, and to find the humor in what seems like impossible situations,
has been crucial for me as I’ve battled one health problem or another for the last decade. It started
when I ended up wheelchair-bound for a prolonged period while I was in university.
At one point, it looked like there was no solution: that my knees would continue to not work the
way they were supposed to. With the help of family and friends, and more than one Pollyanna
reference, I embraced the idea of The Glad Game.
The Glad Game comes from Eleanor H. Porter’s novel Pollyanna. A young girl, burdened with
losing her parents, uprooting her life, and eventually a massive injury, teaches everyone in the grumpy
town around her how to play The Glad Game. I dedicated papers and assignments to the game in
university - because “proof” for the power of positive thinking is rare, and I considered myself
evidence that optimism works on health. I worked to make the best of my situation. I got involved
in disability advocacy, both on campus and in the community, played wheelchair basketball, and
challenged everyone I could to a wheelchair race. I played the Glad Game: I found something to be
thankful for in an awful situation. And my almost 6 foot high clutzy self was able to wear high heels
whenever I wanted!
Laughing at the tough stuff has been making local headlines too. Windsor comedian Josh
Haddon has been promoting the benefits of humour and positive thinking while going through
illness and trying situations. Though unavailable at press time, popular stand-up comic Haddon
kept the jokes coming on his personal Twitter feed and website in mid-March. From minor ways to
look at the sunny side: “2-4 weeks in post-surgery recovery means lots of time to binge-watch new
shows on Netflix “ (his tweet March 4); to his “it’s a new me,” post after removal of digestive organs,
Haddon has used his sense of humor to write a book, donating proceeds to cancer treatment centres.
Scientifically, laughing has multiple physical, psychological and physiological benefits, ranging
from release of pain-blocking endorphins to physical strengthening of abdominal and facial muscles.
Laughter therapy groups take part in laughter exercises, as participants greet each other with
outlandish phrases, or use their hands to feel how laughter radiates throughout the entire body. Clown
Doctors work with the chronically ill and the elderly to promote hope and healing.
Patch Adams’ Gesundheit! Institute takes clown doctors across the globe, into war-torn areas to
spread positive energy. Right here in Windsor, Fools For Health visits hospitals, nursing homes and
retirement homes. Local clown doctors also make appearances at community events, like fundraisers
such as the W.E. Care for Kids walkathon. Sandra Radvanyi, Artistic Director of Fools For Health,
Laughing has multiple physical, psychological and
physiological benefits, ranging from release of pain-blocking
endorphins to physical strengthening of abdominal and facial
muscles.
April 2015 - The HUB 21