One of the many wonderful learnings of the 2015 All America Laughter conference was shared by Terri Reasoner and Mary Ann Finn and is called the laughter buddy pledge.
Terri and Mary Ann came up with this idea after participating in the 2014 All America Laughter conference. Both wanted to keep the laughter energy flowing far beyond the conference, and so started to have weekly online meeting. Here is what these two laughter buddies learned and applied in their laughter and personal lives:
A Laughter Buddy is someone who:
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- Asks a fellow LOU student, laughter leader or teacher to be a Laughter Buddy to support and contribute to mutual laughter growth and learning.
- Commits to regular, professional communication once a week for one year via whatever method works best for the buddies.
- Feels safe with their buddy and honored as an individual who is working to share laughter with the world.
- Feels free to express themself and all of their emotions.
- May decline to answer any questions as they see fit.
- Accepts and appreciates that you are both on a learning and sharing laughter journey.
- Treats their buddy with dignity, respect and loving laughter.
- Has the right to terminate the agreement, if the relationship is not working out.
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Critical Behaviors of a Laughter Buddy:
The 4-critical behaviors that we believe are essential:
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- Commit to Communicate — Be serious about the process as a commitment. Supportive to one another by communicating openly.
- Eager to Encourage — Be open to an adventure and have a curious nature. Want to share the value of laughter with others. Innovate. Give and receive support.
- Interest in Building Community – Have the desire to build and expand your laughter community and learn from someone beyond your geographic or social area.
- Thoughtfulness — Have a thoughtful, reflective and honest interest in sharing with one another.
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What is a Laughter Buddy?
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- A Laughter Buddy (LB) is a fellow laughter enthusiast with whom you feel a special connection. You feel you relate in someway in the laughter experience and that a regular connection will strengthen you both in your laughter journey and life experience.
- Your LB is someone who is invested in your laughter growth, supports you by being a coach, a sounding board, laughter cheerleader, and an acquaintance that may blossom into a friendship.
- Your LB is someone willing to commit to the process for one year. (A weekly Skype meeting.)
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Why might you want a Laughter Buddy?
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- If you lead a laughter club in your community, yet are isolated from other laughter professionals.
- If you are a new laughter leader or teacher and want to build your confidence, laughter exercise library and/or you could benefit from an objective opinion/point-of-view.
- If you feel you could use a little extra support, an ear to lean on, or simply would like some encouragement to keep your laughter alive.
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How can you become a Laughter Buddy?
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- Find a potential person and discuss the idea.
- Make the laughter buddy pledge. (See first page.)
- Arrange your plans to connect.
- During your first initial connection, create overall objectives and a general agenda to follow.
- Stick with it. Remember, some weeks may seem like a burden, but this is a new relationship and could be awkward at first; it can take time to evolve.
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The Values of a Laughter Buddy:
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- Personal coaches to one another
- Support and motivation with reflection
- Enlarge your laughter community beyond your local group
- Bridge between conferences
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A Sample Laughter Buddy Skype Interaction:
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- Check in and updates (small talk).
- Share issues, concerns, questions to be covered in this call.
- Complete conversations and wrap-up. Confirm follow up items, date and time of next meeting.
- Close with laughter—we recommend one minute (or more)!
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Resources to consider, if you do not have a regular local laughter experience:
Five ways to connect with like minded laughers from afar:
- Facebook – Laughter Wellness Community – https://www.facebook.com/groups/laughterwellnesscommunity/
- Laughter Clubs. Find one near you at http://www.laughteronlineuniversity.com/laughterclubs/
- Telephone Laugh Line. See http://www.laughteryogaonthephone.com/
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Click on the image below to download the Laughter Buddy pledge in pdf format:
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