I’m addicted.  Is this a bad thing? I absolutely MUST get some laughs in every day. Lately, I’ve been enjoying laughs between 11:00 pm and 12:00 pm watching my favorite TV comedy sitcom.  You would think, at this time of day, I would have complete freedom to just sit and have a good laugh.  I can’t believe it when my 18 year old daughter gives me one word answers to my friendly questions during the day (in other words mostly ignores me) then thinks nothing of dropping major bombshells on me during my sacred time of humour.

–         11:10 pm – Mom, I have to have $250 no later than 9:00 am in the morning to pay for the deposit on that course at University. I respond –  Huh? What course are you talking about and when did you tell me about this?

–         11:20 pm – Mom, I have a lump the size of a golf ball on my leg.  It’s been there for months.  My boyfriend’s Mother has a hernia and she has the same symptom and now I’m worried so I’m leaving immediately and I’m going to the hospital emergency department. I respond – WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? – Why didn’t you go to a clinic during the day? Why haven’t I heard about this before?

–         11:30 pm – Mom, my boyfriend just doesn’t understand me and we had a big fight two days ago and now all of our friends are taking his side and no one loves or respects me (tears flowing) – I respond – Mute the TV and while continually glancing at it I try to find some sympathy and understanding for this problem that I have heard so many times over and over during the years

–         11:40 pm – Mom, I’m starting a new diet tomorrow and here is a list of all the foods that I will need starting with breakfast in the morning plus I’m buying a juicer for my diet. It costs $200.  Can you help me pay for it?  I respond – PLEASE can we please talk about this tomorrow?

–         11:50 pm – Mom, I have to have a full length, black evening dress, with sleeves, for my Choir concert on Friday night.  When can we go shopping for it?  Oh, and my car has been making a banging noise for the last week or so.  It’s getting really bad – what should we do about it?  I respond – Why didn’t you tell me these things before, like all day today or yesterday or the day before, when I wasn’t indulging in my very best hobby of humour?

I have read that laughter relaxes the body and reduces problems associated with high blood pressure, strokes, ulcers and even arthritis.   I’ve also read that laughter decreases stress hormones while producing a general sense of well-being.  Remember the saying “laughter is the best medicine”? Humour is one of the most powerful tools that we can use to heal ourselves and reduce tension in our lives while building bonds and creating rapport with others. 

Considering I live with a teenager, humour could be a necessity in my life irrespective of my desire for it.  Do you have a good sense of humour and the ability to laugh at stressful situations? If so, these qualities will go a long way in helping to mitigate the damaging physical effects that distressing emotions may cause.  These days I fight the gray hair, wrinkles and teenage bombshells in whatever way that I can.  This includes good quality supplements, lots of physical activity and, my favorite, a daily dose of laughter.

Just as we were taught to read and write and all about fire and water safety so it should be that we must learn to protect ourselves.  I consider my Martial Arts training a real life skill.  It seems inconceivable and foolish to me that my woman friends have no clue how to protect themselves in the event of an attack nor do they think it’s important enough to learn how.   This is a skill, in my opinion, that should be taught to every child and in particular to girls. 

When I was pregnant with my daughter I remember thinking how am I going to let this beloved child of mine out of my site.  I wondered how I was ever going to let go and let my child walk to the bus stop or go to the park with friends or do any of the many things that young teens want to do without parental supervision.  How could I allow these things without worrying frantically about safety?  I know anything can happen these days but the fact that she was trained in Martial Arts allowed me to breathe far more easily than I would have otherwise. 

I am so thrilled that my daughter, also trained in Martial Arts, was brought up with this skill.  She has never known any different than being able to protect herself.  It is second nature to her.  When she reached the age where her and her friends wanted to walk to a park or to a store her friend’s parents would always ask if she was going.  If the answer was yes then they were allowed.  If not, they were not allowed to go.  It amazed me that these parents relied on my daughter to exhibit common sense and the ability to protect while they never considered ensuring their kids learned these skills.  These parents were always generous in their compliments on my daughter’s common sense and her Martial Arts abilities but somehow they never considered this for their own kids.

A comment that I hear over and over at the dojo (karate school) is in regard to the teenage karate students.  The comment is inevitably what great kids they are.  Not only are they keeping physically active while they are learning to protect and defend themselves but they are learning life lessons in respect, morals and self discipline. How many of our children have positive real life role models?  The Sensei (teacher) and the instructors at the dojo are terrific role models for kids.  The kids meet with these role models on average 3 to 4 times per week.  What better place could they be spending time?

For adults, there is no better way to keep in shape while we learn to protect ourselves.  Many of the adults that I know at my dojo joined the program because their children were already students.  For me this was also the case.  In fact, my husband was feeling so left out while my daughter and I continually discussed and practiced our Martial Arts training that he too became a student.  Shotokan Karate has proved to be an incredible bond between ourselves and our daughter.  We are a Martial Arts family and I wouldn’t want it any other way.  Watch for my blog on Adults Avoiding Injury In Martial Arts.