"I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person."
- Audrey Hepburn
In my short time on Earth, the one thing I've noticed is a decrease in happiness. Not necessarily in each person, but in the abundance of happiness as a whole concept; as a life choice.
Having worked in various restaurants for over four years now, I've received my fair share of rude and abusive customers. I've been shouted at and asked "Are you an idiot, or something?", with the only professional and to be frank, allowed response, is to smile and deal with their unreasonable request in whatever way suits them. The thing is, although it hurt a little when their angry red faces were screwed up, near to exploding with a fit of rage, I later sat down and couldn't help but laugh.
This is also prominent on the internet. The hate on youtube videos, blogs and twitter from people who do not even know the person they are sending abuse to. It baffles me as to why people sit in front of their computer with the aim to spread sadness, when they could be spreading laughter and joy. It takes five seconds to compliment somebody, so why not?
Then it clicked. I realised how sad the lives of these people who insist on spreading hate must be. So now, I give the benefit of the doubt. I try to bring as much light into people's lives as I possibly can. And most of all, I laugh.
It dawned on me the other day, that it is so much harder to be mean to people than it is just to be pleasant and smile. Which is when the idea for this campaign popped into my head.
The Laughing Project is simple; spread your laughter. You know how when you're with a group of friends and then one person starts laughing at something? By the end of it, you're all in hysterics, even if the thing they were originally laughing at wasn't that funny to you. That's kind of what this is all about.
To take part, all you have to is share your happiness and laughter, using the hashtag #thelaughingproject through your blogs, Twitter or Instagram.
There are three ways to take part:
- Upload a photo of your beautiful laughing face. It can be as recent or as old as you like.
- Tell the story of the funniest thing that's ever happened to you that made you laugh (it can be related to the photo if you want but it doesn't have to be).
- Say about something which you have done to spread laughter or happiness recently (< I think this is the most important!)
Obviously these are the main guidelines, but you can be as creative as you like!
I'll go first!
These pictures were taken at my 20th birthday when we went out for dinner. I was waiting for dessert (no surprise there) when my soufflé arrived, complete with a candle and "Happy Birthday Jordan" written in chocolate on the plate. I had previously been to the opening of the restaurant and I had met some of the chefs, who now were standing by the kitchen entrance and singing. And I swear to God I could not stop laughing for long enough to blow out my candles.
Some things I did to spread happiness recently;
- Cooking my boyfriend steak, homemade chips, roasted tomato and peas after his eleven hour shift. He ate the whole lot and told me it was great, which really means a lot coming from a chef.
- Baked a cake and took it to musical rehearsals for the cast.
- Took the time to help a family at work who were struggling to seat all their children, so I helped them to find the space, even when we were very busy. The lady later thanked me and told me I was lovely *blushes*.
Thank you, beautiful fellow humans!
0 comments