avatarLiberty Forrest, Author

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ender-coconut seller’s when I notice a woman walking by. She…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*nJz-r4I7ODNmGNyY)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="b529"><a href="undefined">Kris Bedenian</a> has been busybusybusy again! Take a look:</p><div id="943b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/new-years-wishes-can-come-true-606bbc688312"> <div> <div> <h2>New Year’s Wishes Can Come True</h2> <div><h3>“Take a leap of faith and begin this wondrous New Year by believing.”</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*Tng2vhsj4e26_9CS)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="6951" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/why-do-you-make-new-years-resolutions-64d4a07cc1d5"> <div> <div> <h2>Why Do You Make New Year’s Resolutions?</h2> <div><h3>“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*eQ7elNdIFCjeFHaA)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="7c5b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/all-it-takes-is-the-tiniest-spark-6f3db9902e29"> <div> <div> <h2>All It Takes Is the Tiniest Spark</h2> <div><h3>“The spark divine dwells in thee: let it grow.”</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*79UmLorARgbhYUM8)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="e508" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/a-new-day-a-new-you-a7f35b104397"> <div> <div> <h2>A New Day; a New You</h2> <div><h3>“Every moment is a fresh beginning.”</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*CF34zwz2vp0RiB8v)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="fecf" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/create-your-dreams-this-year-9aea6aa0b63"> <div> <div> <h2>Create Your Dreams This Year</h2> <div><h3>While painting away stress and anxiety</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*FC2AiVFcuMI-8fZa)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="52ed"><a href="undefined">Slow train</a> responded to my invitation to write about “Rest” and what that might look like — and took it to a wonderful place:</p><div id="ad24" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/rest-and-rejuvenation-when-faced-with-the-unexpected-64d77fb7a67c"> <div> <div> <h2>Rest And Rejuvenation When Faced With The Unexpected</h2> <div><h3>As you think about your hopes and dreams for 2022, don’t forget some grace for when things don’t go according to plan.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*YU8JlWekoNkPOgcwPjE2Mg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="a9e7">I love this short-but-sweet message from <a href="undefined">Christina</a>:</p><div id="bb46" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/stop-are-you-making-an-excuse-4a071360565e"> <div> <div> <h2>Stop! Are You Making an Excuse?</h2> <div><h3>It’s Time to Be Honest With Yourself</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*xjuKZJ1cBi-z6i2wtqsaig.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="2a72"><a href="undefined">Danielle Hestand</a> has got a great idea about how to practice mindfulness — and as a mindfulness instructor for several years, I can’t believe I never thought of this as one way to practice!</p><div id="583b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/mindfulness-in-the-shower-ed694a0284df"> <div> <div> <h2>Mindfulness in the Shower</h2> <div><h3>While generally relaxing, mindfulness can feel like a chore if you’re tired or recovering from a busy day.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*7LYQzBX7CVG0P5eBTGBaPQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="8641"><a href="undefined">Nicole Hilbig</a> has been busy sharing helpful tips:</p><div id="bce7" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-to-develop-a-positive-reappraisal-when-stressed-out-52e9628e54ab"> <div> <div> <h2>How to Develop a Positive Reappraisal When Stressed Out</h2> <div><h3>Mindfulness is, according to Eric Garland, an „inherent mental capacity of the human organism, although persons differ…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*yZQrcxnRn_K0Jb1yfSn3DA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="d9b1" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/two-strategies-to-take-notes-efficiently-e5c5e7eebba7"> <div> <div> <h2>Two Strategies to Take Notes Efficiently</h2> <div><h3>Do you spend enormous amounts of time writing notes, but don‘t understand what you’ve written?</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*M8IG06XJDm2RSDRewPnE6g.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="a916" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-does-goal-contagion-influence-our-behavior-969b7c46e60a"> <div> <div> <h2>How Does Goal Contagion Influence Our Behavior?</h2> <div><h3>A study reveals that „observing others might not only trigger expression of the same behavior, but also the adoption of…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*t5w0u4PqevsQHBpY1Vor-w.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="b957"><a href="undefined">Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles</a> loaded us up on some fantastic things that make her happy — and I’ll bet they’d work for you, too!</p><div id="06e7" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/things-that-make-me-instantly-happy-5fa8847324a6"> <div> <div> <h2>Things That Make Me Instantly Happy</h2> <div><h3>Because sometimes we have to bring our own sunshine</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*VST1vLl31YGN34wY)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="6a87"><a href="undefined">Wendy S. Bradfield</a> has written a wonderful article about what works way better than New Year’s Resolutions:</p><div id="8156" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/big-new-years-resolutions-are-a-waste-of-time-if-you-want-to-make-a-real-change-2ab1b9664dd1"> <div> <div> <h2>Big New Year’s Resolutions are a Waste of Time if You Want to Make a Real Change</h2> <div><h3>Why you should look back instead of forwards this New Year's Eve</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*BM7RFg0NEx8mkFa7Ur6BFg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="c834"><a href="undefined">Dina Alexander</a> shares a lovely story about how to love yourself a bit more!</p><div id="0e64" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/3-easy-ways-to-love-yourself-a-bit-more-every-day-f14dbd760d2"> <div> <div> <h2>3 Easy Ways To Love Yourself A Bit More Every Day</h2> <div><h3>Spend a little more time on yourself every day</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*z8RQf0I61vd6zErU)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="5010"><a href="undefined">Carrie Kolar</a> offers some helpful guidance about love languages that goes beyond what we usually hear:</p><div id="1c37" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/knowing-your-love-language-is-insanely-useful-but-not-for-the-reason-you-think-5678b8659b80"> <div> <div> <h2>Knowing Your Love Language Is Insanely Useful (But Not For The Reason You Think)</h2> <div><h3>Flipping the love language on its head</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*NxbPdi_uGzDvTcNV-1DrPA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="dd80">…and also some intriguing insights on the Wizard of Oz…and what it really means to be a grown-up:</p><div id="2e56" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-wizard-of-oz-phenomenon-why-real-adults-dont-exist-186662f5ca85"> <div> <div> <h2>The Wizard of Oz Phenomenon: Why Real Adults Don’

Options

t Exist</h2> <div><h3>Real adults are like the Wizard — they don’t actually exist</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*pXv0a3CnfjYDMDvhj5FFqw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="8ae9"><a href="undefined">Tamil</a> and her young daughter cracked me up once again! Oh, the conversations between these two…hilarious!</p><div id="ed2c" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/fun-bits-from-the-piggy-bank-2bcd65177688"> <div> <div> <h2>Fun Bits from the Piggy Bank</h2> <div><h3>Holy cow!</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*nTZf7K9K496yG9S5t0XhZA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="6dc0"><a href="undefined">Nia Simone McLeod</a> shares a fascinating piece about bilateral music!</p><div id="5a39" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/anxious-try-listening-to-bilateral-music-to-ease-your-mind-dcbdbb40c480"> <div> <div> <h2>Anxious? Try Listening to Bilateral Music to Ease Your Mind</h2> <div><h3>There’s something so soothing about it.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*d8y0s66nip4OXzLFaeDe-g.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="f34b"><a href="undefined">Irene Fassler</a> has my tummy growling…a cool Shortie But Goodie about potlucks:</p><div id="d5ef" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-joy-s-of-potlucks-a5e5155eeae3"> <div> <div> <h2>The Joy(s) of Potlucks</h2> <div><h3>Breaking bread together is an important human ritual that helps fortify ties within and outside of our family and…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*KZZ9ijnrHAd6UU8LeWRChw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="e082"><a href="undefined">Muhammad Abdullah</a> has written a lovely poem:</p><div id="efc9" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/poem-reign-of-rays-5c85f01df29a"> <div> <div> <h2>Poem: Reign of Rays</h2> <div><h3>Sunshine spreads in seven colors to the eyes When the snow melts on its soft eyelids,</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*34lUirhQzMb7I5mxXCbDdQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="824b"><a href="undefined">Kaz Rochford</a> shared a deep, dark secret!! 😱</p><div id="f73b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/there-ive-said-it-i-used-to-be-an-accountant-4d9ec45cefe7"> <div> <div> <h2>There I’ve said it; I used to be an accountant.</h2> <div><h3>I could rattle off a “Statement of source and appropriation of funds” before morning tea. It helped that I loved maths…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="bdba"><a href="undefined">Sahil Patel</a> wrote a beautifully inspiring piece:</p><div id="fac4" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/lost-can-be-found-again-42dbf94b13a3"> <div> <div> <h2>Lost Can Be Found Again</h2> <div><h3>“Anything lost, can be found again, except for time wasted, A vision without action is merely a dream, action, it’s the…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*GkfC15Ix49UUBTs0)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="8817"><a href="undefined">Karen Schwartz</a> got a little playful with her uplifting Shortie:</p><div id="c9cc" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-cable-is-out-without-the-internet-to-play-on-medium-i-feel-lost-1dc4c0469398"> <div> <div> <h2>The cable is out. Without the internet to play on Medium, I feel lost.</h2> <div><h3>There’s no television or ability to Google search. So what’s a stationary person to do?</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*_v7v7E7j791c5pVm.jpg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="7d4f"><a href="undefined">T Mann</a> offers some sound advice about how to stay positive while we forge ahead in difficult times:</p><div id="29ed" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/discover-how-to-embrace-the-weight-of-another-challenging-year-ea022f5a0b9d"> <div> <div> <h2>Discover How to Embrace the Weight of Another Challenging Year</h2> <div><h3>It all comes down to what you choose</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*0lgIOJpakJ4qF6vMYhw_Sw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="32b6">A short note on New Year, New Energyness. 🤪 I’m sure that’s a word somewhere. Well, maybe just here. 🤦🏻‍♀️</p><p id="d577">As someone who practices Feng Shui, I understand the importance of keeping everything about my energy as clean and clear as possible. With a new year ahead, this is a great time to clear out clutter and start fresh. Especially as we’re now in Mercury’s pre-retrograde period, so going back, seeing what works, what doesn’t, taking another look, revising, reviewing etc. — all good. Especially during the retrograde period, Jan. 15-Feb.5.</p><p id="8c96">One way I’ve done this is by clearing out my list of publications and people I was following. I kept the ones that still resonate and I want to continue to check out and I unfollowed the rest.</p><p id="2a03">And somewhere along the way, I managed to accumulate a long list of pubs to which I was added as a writer. But as I’m gaining clarity on my topics and intentions for my Medium journey, some of them aren’t about where I’m headed. I haven’t written for some of them in ages — others not at all. So I’ve removed myself.</p><p id="4254">It’s also respectful of the pub owners. Who needs dead energy hanging there in the ether? Or perhaps I should say “stagnant,” not “dead.”</p><p id="b98d">Likewise with people who requested to be added as writers here but haven’t been submitting or even engaging with our community so I have let them go, too. I suppose if they reeeeally want to join our happy group and submit wonderful words, they can be added again.</p><p id="d064">Could your lists of people and pubs — both as follower and following — do with a clear-out, too?</p><p id="f150">And now…for the delightfully exciting part of this newsletterish that I just <i>know</i> you’ve been aching to see…</p><p id="3b52"><i>(insert long and intense drum roll)</i></p><p id="6866">…your super splendiferous weekly Really Dumb Joke!</p><p id="cddf"><i>(Aren’t they just the best thing EVER?)</i></p><p id="1abf">Okay, are you sitting down? Here goes:</p><p id="2441">What time is it when you have to go to the dentist?</p><p id="2b0e">(…wait for it…)</p><p id="94e0">Tooth hurty!</p><figure id="4560"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*ZdwSmEgpWNCu64qMV7RCbQ.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p id="f4f9">Zillions of thanks to our wonderful writers on Hope, Healing and Humour, and on Shorties But Goodies! I am deeply grateful to you for your beautiful submissions and sharing your inspiring, helpful, uplifting and/or entertaining words with our readers! 🙏🏻</p><p id="dbad"><a href="undefined">Dr Andrea Polzer</a> <a href="undefined">Kris Bedenian</a> <a href="undefined">Rodney Brazier</a> <a href="undefined">Patti Murray Voncannon</a> <a href="undefined">Carrie Kolar</a> <a href="undefined">Croix Sather</a> <a href="undefined">Deb Fiore</a> <a href="undefined">Dina Alexander</a> <a href="undefined">DL Nemeril</a> <a href="undefined">Donnette Anglin</a>, <a href="undefined">Loren Lieberthal</a> <a href="undefined">Jimmy Misner Jr.</a> <a href="undefined">Judy Millar</a> <a href="undefined">Julie Gaeta</a> <a href="undefined">Pene Hodge</a> <a href="undefined">Karen Schwartz</a> <a href="undefined">James Knight</a> <a href="undefined">Laura Izquierdo</a> <a href="undefined">pockett dessert</a> <a href="undefined">Dr. Preeti Singh</a> <a href="undefined">Radhika Iyer</a> <a href="undefined">Sam Branstner</a> <a href="undefined">Sharon Sayler, Author</a> <a href="undefined">Umme Salma</a> <a href="undefined">Susie Kearley</a> <a href="undefined">Tamil</a> <a href="undefined">T Mann</a> <a href="undefined">Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles</a> <a href="undefined">Lion~</a> <a href="undefined">Wendy S. Bradfield</a> <a href="undefined">Yana Bostongirl</a> <a href="undefined">Jo An Fox-Wright Maddox</a> <a href="undefined">Suma Narayan</a> <a href="undefined">Penny Walsh</a> <a href="undefined">Shameem Anwar</a> <a href="undefined">Irene Fassler</a> <a href="undefined">Ananya</a> <a href="undefined">Sandy Peckinpah</a> <a href="undefined">Trista Signe Ainsworth</a> <a href="undefined">Slow train</a> <a href="undefined">A.H. Mehr</a> <a href="undefined">Alex Frederickson</a> <a href="undefined">Ashley Nicole</a> <a href="undefined">B.R. Shenoy</a> <a href="undefined">Carolyn Hastings</a> <a href="undefined">Christina</a> <a href="undefined">Christine Vann, MSc.</a> <a href="undefined">Irene Fassler</a> <a href="undefined">Edward John</a> <a href="undefined">Ellie Jacobson ✍🏻</a> <a href="undefined">The Soulful Scribbler</a> <a href="undefined">Isabel Young</a> <a href="undefined">Kaz Rochford</a> <a href="undefined">Nia Simone McLeod</a> <a href="undefined">Nicole Hilbig</a> <a href="undefined">Patricia Wright</a> <a href="undefined">Pam Winter</a> <a href="undefined">Rachella Angel Page</a> <a href="undefined">Jodian Marie Thomas, MS, Bsc, Asc</a> <a href="undefined">L Burton</a> <a href="undefined">Muhammad Abdullah</a> <a href="undefined">Kate Aries</a> <a href="undefined">Danielle Hestand</a> <a href="undefined">Sahil Patel</a> <a href="undefined">Jessica Rabel</a></p></article></body>

Pub Community | Newsletterish | Fun and Health

5 Ways Having Fun Can Improve Your Health Starting Now

Why “goofing off” is essential to your overall health and wellbeing

Photo courtesy of author, created in Canva

“I am going to keep having fun every day I have left, because there is no other way of life. You just have to decide whether you are a Tigger or an Eeyore.”

— Randy Pausch

Happy Tuesday, beloved readers of, and writers for, Hope, Healing and Humour, and Shorties But Goodies!

Welcome to this week’s newsletterish!

Our theme today is “Fun”…

…and I can’t wait to share some cool facts about how important it is to your wellbeing! But first, let me ask…

How are you this week? I mean, really…how are you? What’s going on in your world? I hope it’s loaded with “feel-goodness.”

And if you need a little top-up for that, well, you’ve come to the right place! That’s what we’re all about here, keeping everyone topped up with positively uplifting, inspiring and entertaining stories and poems.

That quote up there at the top…yeah, the one in the big font…I chose it because I absolutely adore Tigger. He’s my hero (okay, have a few of those but he’s right up there at the top of the list).

In fact, I wrote a short story about why he’s my hero and it ties in nicely with today’s theme of “fun.”

The Serious Business of Fun 😜

One of my favourite qualities about Tigger is his delightful sense of fun. He’s playful, cheery, and even has the “Tigger song,” in which he says about tiggers, “They’re bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!”

Who doesn’t love to have some fun now and then? Okay, you’re right, I’ve known a Grumpy Pants or two in my day, those people who see only the negatives (the Eeyores of the world. But surely they must enjoy some fun now and then, don’t you think?).

Even those of us who love having fun can feel guilty for not working or “being busy” if we’re conscious. In some cultures, such as in Canada, the USA, and the UK (as only a few examples), there is a deadly belief that if we have down time, we’re “being lazy.” We feel like we have to justify doing nothing, reading all weekend, lying on the lawn staring at clouds, or doing pretty much anything that involves relaxing, enjoying ourselves, and letting the world go by.

But did you know that having fun is essential to good health and your overall wellbeing?

Some of the Benefits of Fun

  1. Reduces cortisol: Unless you’re living under a rock, by now you must have heard the dangers of too much cortisol, one of the “stress hormones.” It is intended to protect us during “fight or flight” moments but we’re not meant to live in that kind of high stress all the time. We need time for cortisol levels to drop; otherwise, it can become deadly. It can cause weight gain, heart disease, make it hard to fight infections or heal, and more.
  2. Produce more seratonin: This stuff is lovely! If only we could bottle it…(I’m sure there’s someone out there trying to do that and create an MLM for it, haha!). It’s a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating mood, temperature, emotions, appetite and more. It also helps sleep and everyone knows you don’t have much fun if you haven’t had had much sleep!
  3. Improved memory and concentration: Increased cortisol levels have been linked with poor cognitive function and memory, and increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Increased seratonin levels have been shown to improve memory and slow cognitive decline. So even more reason to get those cortisol levels down and crank up the seratonin!
  4. Laughter is excellent medicine: A good belly laugh reduces stress and relaxes muscles for up to 45 minutes! Laughter boosts the immune system and helps fight infections. It improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, thereby helping prevent heart disease. And a study in Norway found that people with a good sense of humour live longer than their less giggly counterparts. This was especially true in cancer patients. Wow. 😳
  5. Increased creativity and productivity: And as writers, we might enjoy a lot of that! Children learn through play…and so do adults. It’s just that we don’t always allow ourselves that option. Being playful sparks your imagination and can even help with productivity. Woohoo! How splendiferous is that?

“Creativity is intelligence having fun.”

— Albert Einstein

There are other benefits to having fun but these ought to assist you in allowing yourself to “goof off” for a while. It’s far from being lazy; it’s a prescription for maximising your physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing.

Oooh, how exciting! My love affair with Really Dumb Jokes is actually good for me! Yay!

What do you do for fun and playfulness? How do you “goof off”? And how does it impact your life when you allow yourself that essential gift?

I’d love to see your stories and poems about that in the coming week (and beyond)

And another “Yay!” Please join me in a happy dance! Shorties But Goodies now has 110 followers! And Hope, Healing and Humour has 75! Woohoo! Thank you for your part in helping my pubs grow and become “feel-good” places to hang out for a while.

And what can I say about our fantastic community? Holy cannoli! We’ve hit the jackpot for a wonderfully engaged, inspiring, fun group of people, don’tcha think?

Group Zoom Call Fun!

For an update about our Video Playtime, there’s this…

Here’s the rundown on the past week’s fantastic submissions!

A.H. Mehr offers up some lovely ideas on nurturing positive thoughts — just what we like to see here on my two pubs!

Susie Kearley shares a story about the questionable punctuation of an editor:

Suma Narayan shares some wonderfully descriptive Shorties:

Kris Bedenian has been busybusybusy again! Take a look:

Slow train responded to my invitation to write about “Rest” and what that might look like — and took it to a wonderful place:

I love this short-but-sweet message from Christina:

Danielle Hestand has got a great idea about how to practice mindfulness — and as a mindfulness instructor for several years, I can’t believe I never thought of this as one way to practice!

Nicole Hilbig has been busy sharing helpful tips:

Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles loaded us up on some fantastic things that make her happy — and I’ll bet they’d work for you, too!

Wendy S. Bradfield has written a wonderful article about what works way better than New Year’s Resolutions:

Dina Alexander shares a lovely story about how to love yourself a bit more!

Carrie Kolar offers some helpful guidance about love languages that goes beyond what we usually hear:

…and also some intriguing insights on the Wizard of Oz…and what it really means to be a grown-up:

Tamil and her young daughter cracked me up once again! Oh, the conversations between these two…hilarious!

Nia Simone McLeod shares a fascinating piece about bilateral music!

Irene Fassler has my tummy growling…a cool Shortie But Goodie about potlucks:

Muhammad Abdullah has written a lovely poem:

Kaz Rochford shared a deep, dark secret!! 😱

Sahil Patel wrote a beautifully inspiring piece:

Karen Schwartz got a little playful with her uplifting Shortie:

T Mann offers some sound advice about how to stay positive while we forge ahead in difficult times:

A short note on New Year, New Energyness. 🤪 I’m sure that’s a word somewhere. Well, maybe just here. 🤦🏻‍♀️

As someone who practices Feng Shui, I understand the importance of keeping everything about my energy as clean and clear as possible. With a new year ahead, this is a great time to clear out clutter and start fresh. Especially as we’re now in Mercury’s pre-retrograde period, so going back, seeing what works, what doesn’t, taking another look, revising, reviewing etc. — all good. Especially during the retrograde period, Jan. 15-Feb.5.

One way I’ve done this is by clearing out my list of publications and people I was following. I kept the ones that still resonate and I want to continue to check out and I unfollowed the rest.

And somewhere along the way, I managed to accumulate a long list of pubs to which I was added as a writer. But as I’m gaining clarity on my topics and intentions for my Medium journey, some of them aren’t about where I’m headed. I haven’t written for some of them in ages — others not at all. So I’ve removed myself.

It’s also respectful of the pub owners. Who needs dead energy hanging there in the ether? Or perhaps I should say “stagnant,” not “dead.”

Likewise with people who requested to be added as writers here but haven’t been submitting or even engaging with our community so I have let them go, too. I suppose if they reeeeally want to join our happy group and submit wonderful words, they can be added again.

Could your lists of people and pubs — both as follower and following — do with a clear-out, too?

And now…for the delightfully exciting part of this newsletterish that I just know you’ve been aching to see…

(*insert long and intense drum roll*)

…your super splendiferous weekly Really Dumb Joke!

(*Aren’t they just the best thing EVER?*)

Okay, are you sitting down? Here goes:

What time is it when you have to go to the dentist?

(…wait for it…)

Tooth hurty!

Zillions of thanks to our wonderful writers on Hope, Healing and Humour, and on Shorties But Goodies! I am deeply grateful to you for your beautiful submissions and sharing your inspiring, helpful, uplifting and/or entertaining words with our readers! 🙏🏻

Dr Andrea Polzer Kris Bedenian Rodney Brazier Patti Murray Voncannon Carrie Kolar Croix Sather Deb Fiore Dina Alexander DL Nemeril Donnette Anglin, Loren Lieberthal Jimmy Misner Jr. Judy Millar Julie Gaeta Pene Hodge Karen Schwartz James Knight Laura Izquierdo pockett dessert Dr. Preeti Singh Radhika Iyer Sam Branstner Sharon Sayler, Author Umme Salma Susie Kearley Tamil T Mann Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles Lion~ Wendy S. Bradfield Yana Bostongirl Jo An Fox-Wright Maddox Suma Narayan Penny Walsh Shameem Anwar Irene Fassler Ananya Sandy Peckinpah Trista Signe Ainsworth Slow train A.H. Mehr Alex Frederickson Ashley Nicole B.R. Shenoy Carolyn Hastings Christina Christine Vann, MSc. Irene Fassler Edward John Ellie Jacobson ✍🏻 The Soulful Scribbler Isabel Young Kaz Rochford Nia Simone McLeod Nicole Hilbig Patricia Wright Pam Winter Rachella Angel Page Jodian Marie Thomas, MS, Bsc, Asc L Burton Muhammad Abdullah Kate Aries Danielle Hestand Sahil Patel Jessica Rabel

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