Living on the Smile Side of Life

"Introduction to "What Gets You Out of Bed In the Morning?"

No matter what our stage of life, from being a young career striver through retirement years, we face life challenges, some of them coming about without your choice or control.
Especially, the journey through midlife and beyond can be an unsettling time. As parts of life change, it creates the perfect opportunity to re-examine one's sense of meaning and purpose, to create fresh vision for the road that lies ahead.

The Laughter Lightning Round

Five Fun Facts in a Flash! Why you need laughter in your life - it's not optional!

Taking A Laughter Break, for the Health of It. Presentation for Innovation Women, April 2024

Laughter is an important aspect of Well-Being, and has existed since before humans had language, or even a "sense of humor." Take a journey through laughter's history, learn about laughter's support of resilience, and enjoy some laughter exercises that do not rely on comedy or jokes!

The Real 50 over 50 - Meet Noreen Braman

This interview was co-hosted with Iris Goldfeder, CEO of Gas Stove Creative. It was such fun.Noreen Braman is the founder of The Smile Side of Life Laughter & Happiness Club, and is all about the healing power of laughter. She's literally a hoot!After a few rounds of reinvention, including a contentious divorce, corporate downsizing due to an economic recession of historic proportions, and facing her own midlife issues, she took her skills as a strategic communications professional, humorist, and performer in a new direction.Laughter is a powerful tool for personal and professional growthNoreen shared how laughter transformed her life and career after several personal and professional challenges. Reinventing herself after a contentious divorce, corporate downsizing, and midlife issues, she leveraged her skills as a strategic communications professional and humorist in a new direction to inspire others."When I was 50, I had to rethink my whole life and it set me on this path. I found that you do end up having a reassessment of your personal mission and vision. There's something important about that midlife part of your life that tells you what is it that you really wanted to do. What is the thing that really makes you happy, really feels like you're giving something to the world? And I have found it through laughter Wellness." She shared more about how laughter has been a healing part of her journey, helping her survive difficult periods and build resilience. "Laughter has helped me hold things together when things were not funny. I've built my resilience through laughter. After going through a divorce, going through some health things, laughter holds me over."Laughter has a significant role in workplace dynamicsNoreen uses laughter to break the ice in a variety of professional scenarios, especially with lawyers. She emphasized the importance of incorporating laughter into corporate situations, noting that if everything is taken too seriously, nothing becomes serious.She recalled, "With dentists and lawyers, it can be difficult for them to let go because they feel they're very serious people doing very serious work. But if you can bring humor in, it becomes a pattern interrupt." Braman also stressed the positive impact of laughter in creating a more harmonious and productive work environment.Laughter can be learned and practiced as an exerciseThe conversation turned to how laughter can be practiced as an exercise and used as a tool to release endorphins, reduce stress, and energize individuals. She shared a simple laughter exercise involving three laughter sounds – ho, ha, and he – associated with different parts of the body. It was fun and quite relaxing, give it a try.Here’s how you do it… there are three laughter sounds ho ho ho, ha ha ha, he he he. Breathe in through your nose out through your mouth vocalize that laughter sound. If you do this a few times, it releases endorphin, it raises your heart rate, it energizes you for wherever you have to go to speak somewhere."The brain doesn't know the difference between pretend and genuine laughter, so even making the sounds can trick the brain into releasing feel-good hormones. This simple exercise can be done quietly too.Visit Noreen's website to learn more and connect. https://www.smilesideoflife.com/ #TheReal50over50 #wisdomrevolution #womenempoweringwomen #liveinterview

Treading Water- The Pandemic Edition by Noreen Braman episode 2

Blasts from the Past
 
"I find that the further I go back, the better things were, whether they happened or not."  - Mark Twain
 

Treading Water: The Pandmic Edition by Noreen Braman 1. Introduction

1. Introduction
Treading Water is a slightly damp collection of Noreen Braman's previously published humor essays and columns. You'll be grateful that your life isn't full of watery adventures, misbehaving dogs, care plans gone awry, and varmint that don't give up.
"You can't save someone from drowning if you're barely trading water yourself." - Eddie Vetter