Laughter and Transitions

I thought I would reflect for a moment on this particular stage in the McNair experience. When I say McNair experience, I mean my own McNair experience which has been going on for some time now….this time of year is always exciting, a little nerve-wracking, and inspiring on many different levels. We’ve got scholars graduating, getting offers for grad school and moving on to the next phase in life. We’ve got scholars just getting started in the process, although I must say that they are probably feeling “down and dirty” in the thick of things at the moment given that draft proposals just came in yesterday and presentations are coming up in just a few weeks. Having both groups going at once is really fun, sometimes challenging to keep track of everyone’s details, but most of all – super cool. In short, everyone is in the process of exploring options for themselves and figuring out their lives. That’s what McNair is all about.

I encourage everyone to embrace this process, wherever you might be in it, and take from it what it has to offer. If you are willing to really put yourself out there, I’m betting that you’ll receive back ten-fold – in ways you probably can’t imagine right now. Again, that’s super cool. I’ll end with a tidbit from Lou Tice on laughter since I think that is something that can really help, really with everything, and at every point along the way.

Here is what Lou says:

Today, we know that humor is a vital sign of life that affects us both physiologically and psychologically. Genuine laughter signals emotional flexibility and is a common reaction to the unexpected, the unpredictable. Some folks claim that one good belly-laugh – that full-out, no-holds-barred, tears streaming down your face laugh – can give you up to 90 days of protection against illness. If that’s true, imagine what a giggle-a-day could do.

The ability to make others laugh is an invaluable quality, but the ability to make ourselves laugh is even more precious – so develop a ticklish funny-bone, and you’ll be growing in more ways than you might think!

--Lou Tice, The Pacific Institute