July Meditations

“Laughter is an instant vacation.” Milton Berle

Summer time is usually a time to get away; for me and many of us in the music business, it is a time to get back to work. I know that is a strange concept because for the audience, a concert is a break from the monotony of daily life and a time to have fun.

And, it should be just that.

There is nothing better than getting lost in the components of a show…the lights, the pyrotechnics, the images on the big screen, the rocking sounds of the band and the voice of the artist that drew you there. It is very easy to get lost in the performance and as you watch, for that two hours, everything else in your life seems distant and cloudy...your voice blends with the singer and you become a part of the action…you sing every word, isn’t it amazing how you know every word?

And you escape…you are totally focused and living in the moment. It is meditation in motion…

It carries a distinct likeness to being with old friends. Together you tell stories that have been told over and over. Together you laugh as your mind transports you back in time…and as your best friend tells that same old story, you begin to recite favorite lines with him or her… isn’t it amazing how you know every word?

In these valued moments the worries of the future, and regrets of the past freeze. It is like someone hits pause on the concerns and the fears, for they are not at this table and we aren’t feeding them with our internal dialogue…we are simply present, living, loving and joyful…

That is what laughter does. Besides dissolving tension, stress, anxiety, anger, grief, and depression, laughter makes you more open to give and receive love. I mean can you really be mad at yourself or someone else when you are smiling?

I am not trying to downplay the troubles or conflicts in your life. I know that they are very real, and often very overwhelming. I simply want you to know that finding a lightness or humor in a situation can truly make the issue a little easier to deal with. And if you can’t get away this summer on a “true” vacation, gather your friends and family and laugh…it is really an instant getaway…