There was a time when I sincerely believed that my purpose in life was to make people laugh. No joke. I thought that was the whole reason I had been sent to earth: make people happy. (I think this was when I was around nine. But then, most things I'm not sure about when they happened I think they happened when I was nine. I was a very busy nine year old.)
Probably I got this idea from a well-meaning teacher who said that Heavenly Father gives us talents to use and develop in life and that's our job. The Parable of the Talents. But I'm not sure, so I won't point fingers. It's possible I thought it up myself.
But the point is, there was a two or three time period when I was specifically working to make people laugh. Not just cracking jokes, but training in the Martial Art of Happiness.
I'm glad I did. I have a friend who is very depressed. So depressed that one of my nightmares is getting a call saying that she killed herself. I'm not talking white make-up and Shakespeare and angsty wallowing in the fun of being depressed. My friend isn't wallowing. She's drowning.
And so when I'm with her, I try to make her laugh. I practically turn cartwheels (I don't, because I have a bad back and I don't know how anyway). And I'm glad I've been in training for this, because it's hard.
I wish there was a happy, up-lifting sort of note to end this on, but I can't think of one.
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You do have a gift for making people laugh, for sure! It's one of (many) reasons I love being around you. (:
ReplyDeleteAbout your friend - if she's that depressed, she needs HELP, not just laughter. Do her parents/leaders/teachers know about this? Is she going to counseling? Seriously, professional help is needed for depression serious enough that you think she might kill herself.
try the Bach flower remedy Mustard.
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