Dear Precious Reader, dear beloved fellow human, dear lover and believer,
I am submitting my application to present a talk at the G.A.T.E 3 2013 Conference in Los Angeles next month. NEXT MONTH.
I have ALSO launched my first IndieGoGo Fundraising Campaign so that I might JOIN G.A.T.E (Global Alliance for Transformation in Entertainment) and GO to the event. And, if by the grace of God and all that is kind and good, and severely, delightfully fun, silly, whimsical, valuable, glorious and happy in this World, I will be invited to present.
Wouldn’t you love that? I know I would. I know that Hollywood won’t know what they’re in for when I show up, wickedly and mischievously packing my kit bag of Laughter Yoga, merriment, and playful Laughter & Joy. Or will they? They DO have their Jim Carrey, don’t they! They do have their Golden Globe Hostesses of the Evening, Amy Pohler and Tina Fey! Amazing jobs they did tonight! They have their Hollywood family…I don’t know, perhaps you’re reading this and you’re a Facebook friend or maybe you know me-know me. What d’ya think?
Now…you know what? This has gone off in a direction that I had not planned. I’m reading it as I go…You know we do that. Writers sometimes read as they write. It’s not good for typing. You remember? Typing class? We’re supposed to look off into space, right? Or at the words we are typing. Right? Not at our hands and not at the paper. At least that’s how I remember it. (It’s late and I’m rambling now!) But I did want to share this stream of consciousness writing with you, as I fill out the application to present.
I wrote it in pink Sharpie. Pink Sharpie. Will they know that they can’t take me too seriously? I think they might! “At least we won’t have to commit to paying her!”, they might be saying. You think? Would they say that, and then accept my application and schedule me to speak after Jon Cryer? I don’t know if Jon Cryer will be there, but he might be, you know? I met Jon Cryer once. Over the buffet at a Movie Premier during Sundance Film Fest. We were both lingering over the buffet. You know how you do when you’ve talked to everyone interesting and you want to quietly scope out any new arrivals. We chatted, watched the room and chatted.
And that is my Jon Cryer story.
So, I’m sitting here, and I’m thinking about deciding yesterday that I really wanted to go to GATE…and then realizing that it felt like, well, almost like I didn’t have a choice. I’m looking at my application and thinking, “Who the hell am I to think I should be speaking at this event!”
But, then another voice speaks up…that voice from deep down inside me that says, “Are you crazy?! You are not waiting another day, not another second! You have a powerful message…you have a deep and true message to share and by God! You are going! You are THAT Heidi! YOU are Tigger! You are Ski Feet! YOU are your parent’s “Heidi Pie” –there is not another one out there to present this talk! So, doubter, shut up and write!”
And here I am, writing, at what? 3:16 on a Sunday night. Writing. Writing and watching a movie.
My next sentence is, well, follows that unexpected content for just a tick…because, well, because I just finished watching “Flight” and I am stunned. I didn’t expect…I didn’t know that “Flight”, for which Denzel Washington was rightly nominated for a Golden Globe Award…I didn’t know that this film is a powerful film about the transformation of it’s character. Now, I am not into writing OR Reading spoilers, so that’s all you’re going to get on the film-specific topic…But here came this outpouring to me, this moving film containing within it what Dr. Wayne Dyer calls a Quantum Moment. In his book, “The Shift: Ambition to Meaning”, Dr. Dyer says Quantum Moments are usually preceded by what might be called ‘the lowest of lows’ and immediately followed by a life-altering shift in awareness, in consciousness. From the book, I quote, “A person, who experiences a quantum moment, moves from an ego -driven life perspective to a spiritual balanced and more authentic life.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOmwi-rAdMU
http://suite101.com/article/quantum-moments-lead-to-transformation-a319048
So, here I am, up late, beyond a reasonable hour, especially for one who likes to wake up early to exercise…here I am and I’m watching an unexpected movie. I like these kinds of movies – Unexpected movies. I like them a lot. They wake me up. I think they wake us all up. I know for me, they trigger my desire to write stories. They send me to sleep smiling for the writing that someone else has done…the inspiration someone else had and the powerful job they and so many other members of their team did in bringing that story to the screen. To me. To others like me. We get our buttons pushed. We cry. We pause. We think. Oh, yes, we think!
It’s magic. When it all comes together, like that, it’s magic. And wouldn’t we all love for it to come together even more? I think we would. I think we’re aching for it to come together so much more often. WE like Magic! We, humans, we love a good story and a story about a powerful transformation of the human soul?…that’s like manna from Heaven, as Marianne Williamson said in her address at G.A.T.E. 2, last year. And we are responsible for it. You know what?? We, the theater-goers, we are part of the team. OHhh yes, we are!
We are the demanders. Who holds the purse strings in Hollywood? Who do you think? We do!
Think about it: They don’t write movies for people who don’t go to movies. They write movies for us, the people who love movies. They write what we enjoy paying money to see. We are movers and shakers in Hollywood. The only difference between us and the ones wearing the flashy suits and driving the shiny cars? There are more of us! WE control the market. We pull the lever, we push the button, we make the ATM withdrawals that keep them in their shiny car cars and flashy suits! Who else is more responsible!
Our role, as Demanders of movies is one that if we began to pay attention to what we are asking for, could and will change the face of the movie industry. We love hearing about the unexpected success of a seeming underdog! We love someone from a low place rising up to triumph. WE like seeing kids from destitute backgrounds decide to turn their lives around and succeed and even thrive in their lives. WE LOVE movies that make us applaud when they are over, but we don’t ask for them, do we! We don’t. Because we think that loving triumph and transformation makes us seem weak, right? So we cast our dollars before violence, thinking it empowers us, but it doesn’t, does it? It leaves us feeling more separate, more fearful and less secure.
It’s the transformative films that thrill us really! And I think Hollywood is starting to listen. Movies like “The Shawshank Redemption”, “Good Will Hunting”, and “The Matrix”, why do you think we lined up to see those films? Because they had good acting? Maybe some of us. Because they had big stars? Maybe, again, some of us. The real reason is because these movies shine a light on the strengths of simple, average every day people and shows us how we can be so much more. We see in “The Shawshank Redemption”, the power of Andy, a bookkeeper. His strength is in his intellect, his understanding of human nature and his patience. With a little properly applied human science and a little patience, he shows us we can win.
We like movies that help us to stretch our personal boundaries, and help us to see what’s right in front of our noses. How many of us began to look at the whole world and wonder, “What if society, as we know it, or think we do, IS one giant Holodeck, like in “Star Trek: Next Generation”
And this is where I break to sleep. It’s 3:30
If you’re interested and you’d like me to finish, just like the post and follow my blog.
See you in the morning and THANK YOU for READING!!!
OH! One more thing before shut eye…if you’re interested in reading more about my campaign to get my glorious laughing butt to G.A.T.E 3 on February 2 in L.A…OH wow! I just realized! That’s GROUND HOG Day! A “Ground Hog Day” happens to be One of the BEST Transformational Films EVER! I am sure that’s no accident! 🙂
So, if you want to read more and consider contributing either by donating or by sharing the Link to the Campaign! EITHER is welcome and appreciated!!! …anyway, if you want it, here it is: http://www.indiegogo.com/LaughterAndJoy/x/1887429
now and soon-to-be or Maybe Not-so-soon..but eventual friends..
.Laughter Yoga is HERE TO STAY!
Your body lowers Cortisol levels right away!! Lowering Tension and releasing muscles from rigidity. You will ALSO still get the endorphine rush. It won’t be as notable but darlin…you will STILL get a release. 
You WILL have stronger Arteries! You WILL have lower Stress Levels! You WILL send oxygen around through your cells and you WILL thusly, help protect those very same cells from Cancer! 
just LAUGH ANYWAY!
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Heidi & Co - Joy Injection 
Your First Question: ” You can’t be SERIOUS!!!….LAUGHTER….in the OFFICE????”
My Answer…a BIG resounding”Ha Ha Ha…. YES!!!”
Imagine for a moment, the people that you work with…Laughing for Twenty Minutes before the start of every day at the office.
Are you picturing maybe that everyone gets along better when they are laughing?
Are you imagining that the result may be that people are less tense…and we all know that when people are free of stress they get an awful lot more work done.
Are you following my chain of thought?
WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT IT?
Improved immune system? Check!
Stronger arteries? Check!
Lowered Blood Pressure? Absolutely!
Stronger Heart? You think not? You’d be Wrong!
Improved Lung Capacity…
AND lowered Cortisol (nasty stress hormone!) and Lowered Adrenaline (also has adverse effects on the body when in a sustained excessive supply, such as under stress and tension throughout the day.
….not to mention sustained Laughter is ALSO a GREAT abdominal workout!
(and also..ONE MORE THING…you think FAKE LAUGHTER won’t be good enough?
OUR BODIES ARE GULLIBLE!
If you fake laugh…your body doesn’t know the difference, it believes you. So…if you laugh and breathe and clap like everyone else in the class, you will get the SAME BENEFITS AS THEY DO! EVEN IF IT’S NOT GENUINE LAUGHTER!
WHERE ELSE WILL WE FIND FIFTEEN MINUTES OF SUSTAINED MIRTHFUL, JOYFUL and CHILDLIKE LAUGHTER?
Where else but in a Laughter Yoga session!!
Mirthful and Unconditional Laughter…It’s not found in comedy shops. Think about the jokes you usually hear at Comedy Shops…Are they making fun of someone? Of Something? IS your brain active? Do you have to think a little bit, sometimes?
UNCONDITIONAL laughter that requires no brain engagement…no making fun of anyone or anything…in fact, someone can participate who doesn’t even speak the language and still get the same immune response and all the other benefits. Without even understanding what the Leader is saying….
You’re thinking of a Group…Maybe of the people at your Office..and then you think, “Nah! This would never fly!”
Well, I invite you to imagine…imagine your colleagues, employees, staff, team, faculty…what have you, all experiencing these benefits together!!
…Laughter Yoga can help measurably REDUCE the devastating EFFECTS of STRESS whiles also INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY and MORALE in your office!!
Now those aren’t such bad side effects, right? In fact, we generally call them BENEFITS!
WHAT IS LAUGHTER YOGA?
Well…first of all…YOGA…the word all by itself basically means “Unity Through Breath”…it’s the Word that comes BEFORE Yoga that tells you what kind of exercise you’ll be doing when you are breathing together, as a class.
In this case…it’s Laughter Exercises. Exercises that inspire Childlike, Playful, Joyful, Mirthful Laughter…the kind you see kids in hysterics with…Ask them what’s so funny and they double over, laughing even harder.
Remember those times!?? I bet your smiling just thinking about those times. That’s because Laughter feels so good! Just laughing, for no reason is a relaxing, joyful and healing moment…Imagine a whole hour of it! And yes! It’s as good as it sounds!
Laughter Yoga combines aspects of Yoga with aspects of
1. Mirthful, UNCONDITIONAL Childlike, Playfulness, (recalls happier, and much more relaxed times in our Lives)
2. Breathing, (helps to Oxygenate the cells) Clapping,(Clapping stimulates the acupressure meridians in our palms)
3. Light (VERY Light) Stretching.
4. Eye Contact
5. Limiting Participation of the Thinking Brain. (The less we THINK during Laughter Yoga, the BETTER!)
No Jokes.
No Comedy.
Just Laughter!
Sound Silly?
It is!
I mean…think about it….can you answer this Question….WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOUR FACE AND STOMACH ACHED FROM A PROLONGED and SUSTAINED BOUT OF LAUGHTER? When was the last time you laughed uproariously at work??
Even Oprah’s old curmugeon make-up guy, Reggie, was changed after his experience at a Laughter Yoga session!
Demo The Voice of Milk and Honey
“I believe that Laugh Lines are Spiritual Braille, such that the spirits of Joy, Love, Wonder and Love may find us faster always!”
Heidi HeynsHi Helena!
Laughter (not comedy) is really the point. Learning to laugh for no reason…learning to laugh simply to enjoy the benefits of laughter- THAT is the point.
And the body doesn’t know the difference. It will get the same great benefits whether the laughter is real or if its fake.
Oxygen into the cells!
Improved Immune!
Strengthened arteries!
Improved sense of well-being!
Lowered blood pressure!
Lowered Cortisol levels! (major stress hormone)
And if you just don’t feel like laughing, which at some point, you may just accidentally join in on the fun, BUT if you don’t… you just prefer to not participate….you will still get some of the healing benefits! Yes! Simply by being within range and hearing of Laughter! Its THAT powerful!
Helena, did you know that Hospitals in Russia are frequently built next to school playgrounds so the patients can benefit from being so close to so much laughter? Its True!
As for whether a company would fire someone who chose not to laugh or have fun, well that’s not really something I can speak to. I don’t Work in the HR of any company, but its never happened in my experience.
People generally end up laughing simply because laughter is so contagious AND when they learn how beneficial it is they usually make a decision to Go FOr It!
Go for it, Helena! You may be quite happily surprised! You WILL feel more relaxed. You WILL lower your stress levels. You WILL improve your immune system. AND you’ll be getting a great little workout!
Go ahead! And if you do I would LOVE to hear about your experience!
Love and laughter,
Heidi
Demo The Voice of Milk and Honey
Have you read this IMPORTANT Guide to Being the Best Ecademy Member you can be?
“I believe that Laugh Lines are Spiritual Braille, such that the spirits of Joy, Love, Wonder and Love may find us faster always!”
Heidi Heyns