In the process of purging, I had to go through the “treasures” I have saved.  The first time I tried, I opened the cedar chest and saw my wedding dress.  I burst into tears and shut the lid. Since then, I have been avoiding it, trying to do other things first. Yesterday, my beautiful daughter came over and helped me.  We spent an hour laughing hysterically at the handmade cards and gifts my kids have made for each other and for me over the years.  There were mother’s day cards hailing my virtues as a mother, projects from school where they display their prowess as artists, boy scout and girl scout awards, awards for academic achievements and creative endeavors like dance, athletic awards, and funny cards I saved that they had made for each other.

I have two amazing children, Patrick who is 31 and Jessica who will soon be 26.  I love them with all my heart.  They are both physically stunning people, but it is who they are as human beings that makes them truly beautiful. What struck me yesterday as my daughter was here helping me pack and purge, was how funny they both are.  We were reading all these old cards and she was giving a running commentary about how much of a genius she was as a child and what a moron her brother (who she loves dearly) was. Two of their cards went like this:

Dear Jessica: “From a brother you like, I want you to know…Get out of my room or I will tell Mom. Happy Birthday.” ~Pat 
Dear Santa: “I have ben vera good. My bruther has been vera bad.” ~Jessica  

Someone posted on my Facebook that moments like that, of Jessica and I laughing hysterically at the cards, were priceless.  I was reflecting on that and realized that my life has been filled with a lifetime of those moments.  I come from a family of siblings that could make you roll on the floor with laughter.  My children have inherited that same gift.  They take the most ordinary life events and have the capacity to see the humor in them.

That gift will serve them well in life.  They can take difficult and challenging times and turn them into laughter.  There is lots of research that laughter boosts energy levels and decreases stress. It also connects us to other people, lightens each other’s burdens, inspires hope, and keeps us balanced. Laughter is one of the greatest gifts we can give each other as human beings.
Make someone laugh today. And when they do, take a moment to enjoy the sound, to see the sparkle in their eyes, to appreciate the moment of joy.  It really is one of the most priceless moments of our lives.

This morning, I feel like the richest person on Earth.  Thanks for making me laugh Jess and for making this purging process a little easier.