How to BE free and laughing – an update from Nadine
October 21, 2009 by Marguerite Orane
Filed under Featured Posts, Practice
I received this beautiful note from a friend, Nadine, this morning and wanted to share what happens in your life when you are “free and laughing”!
Hi Marguerite!
Just wanted to share that I’ve been full-joying your blog posts and love the new site. It’s so bright and cheerful.
Do you remember when I asked you sometime ago if you knew of anywhere that was being rented, and the advice you gave? Well, I bought an additional suitcase afterwards, when there was a sale at Ammars. A huge one. I guess I thought that the Universe would have manifested accommodations on seeing my intention and action. That was several months ago, and I viewed quite a few dumps in that period. Then, suddenly, on October 2, I saw a repeat ad, took a chance on calling, found that it was still available, viewed it the following day, LOVED it, and moved in on October 9.
I’m happy, comfortable, and at peace in my new space, my sanctuary, although I don’t have everything yet to call it a real home. But, in my mind’s eye, I can already see what it will look like eventually. It’s a very spacious studio apartment that’s roughly a 25-minute-walk away from where I work, and also in close proximity to the plazas and shopping areas. How good is that? So, I get my exercise both morning and evening.
I’ve re-read portions of your book to encourage my spirit whenever I feel doubts and fears arising. I realise that I have so much to release, and that I need to relax more. Your book and blog have been very helpful in keeping me centered. The thought has also come to me to visit the church that you attended here from time to time, just to help maintain my spirituality, since I no longer wish to be formally associated with any denomination or religion.
But I say all this to share that aspect of my journey, and the power of intentions, and how everything happened so quickly, almost magically, at just the right time. And I’m thankful to you for the advice you gave.
I will continue to be free and laughing on my journey.
Nadine
This has brought back to mind the words of Rev Elma in one of her Sunday morning lessons over 12 years ago…. “whatever you need to know will be brought to your attention”… I have since believed it.. Give thanks to be free and laughing!
Hi Marguerite,
This is an excerpt from my book (not yet published), “Seeds of Insight: Strong Memories of My Favourite Men.” I know where you are because I am there too – free and laughing.
Laughs and a few sweet words (taken from Chapter 12)
I cannot get you out of my mind. Years ago you told me something that I had never heard before. You knew that I always enjoy a good conversation so you would engage me for hours if I allowed you to. You were one of those simple Jamaican men who returned home to make your last fortune before you made your final exit. One day you saw how much I was laughing and you said a few words to me that I will never forget. “Ann Marie, never lose your laugh.” I will take those words with me wherever I go. I cannot allow myself to lose my laugh now.
The dawns are just too short. I must laugh now because the breezes are kissing my feet and my legs, my feet and my toes at the same. Only nature can do that. Nature is the perfect lover bringing the sweet scents of the dawn and providing healing. The abundant breezes are coming through the limited window of my home touching my entire body in unbelievable ways. The breezes have no boundaries and are not troubled by the window. They move through freely to take the shape of my body. Like the morning scents, the breeze have no limits; it is free and behaves the way it chooses. Nature is free yet so routine. No two mornings are ever the same.
The feeling will not last much longer and you know it. That’s why you are here massaging my feet. A great big sigh and we laugh. We hesitate to make decisions. Why is that so? Nature does not hesitate. The birds sing in the morning when they are moved by nature. The breezes blow at its own will and the dogs mate when they are in heat and sleep after they eat. The sun rises without a decision. Everything is working on its own cycle. This morning is the first day of our next cycle. Why do I have to make the decisions? Why can’t I just enjoy each day without decisions?
The sunlight has now cast a radiant sheen over the mountain tossing it onto the Poinciana flowers. It is a sight to behold. The tree is probably older than I am; so is that stool over there longing for some of the morning sun to rise. It is as old as this house. But a stranger would never know. The colour was changed to blend in with the room’s décor. It is a unique design. The Master must have been inspired.
The sunlight has shifted into a new position. You are no longer here with me. All I have is the memory of the last fifteen minutes. You were a simple man who made some complex mistakes. You really did. You missed the waves of life. You did not ride the tides. Maybe you were just too weak to do so…too destitute.
I was not prepared by my parents how to ride life’s tidal waves. My father watched as the waves rolled in and my mother tried her best to ride out the waves. The tidal waves lashed them over many times on their backs and my mother struggled to rise up each time before the next wave. My father knew that there was nothing wrong with lying down on his back and watching the waves. He knew that he was no match for God’s powerful waves. Lying on his back was a safe place for him to be.
So after your last days in Jamaica you returned to the North and never returned. I am grateful that you left a few sweet words with me. I now place a very high value on my laugh I do not take the emotions for granted. I laugh when I am happy and I laugh when I am sad. Not everyone understands my laugh. It is often misunderstood. I never laugh at anyone. Instead I laugh with them and sometimes I laugh for them. I laugh for those who cannot laugh. I sometimes laugh out loud and others look at me in bewilderment. I often invite them to laugh with me. Sweet laughter is free and knows no borders. I share my laughs with strangers as far away as Serbia and Switzerland. I laugh about their thoughts and their music.
Thank you my darling for removing that clock on the wall. For about three days now the hourly chimes have been driving me insane. The batteries have been drained causing the chimes to fade into a sickening whine. It was starting to annoy me. So I am glad you removed it this morning. Thank you. It is all in a day’s work.
There are many lessons to be learned today. To be homeless is one of the most necrotic yet nascent states of a man’s life. I knew you were homeless by your smell but you pretended as if you were a king as you dreamed about your new life. As we make our transitions though life, we sometimes end up homeless moving from one place to the other, kotching with a friend here and a relative there. You were homeless when I met you first but you were in denial like so many other homeless persons I know. You continued to live your dreams of being a successful entrepreneur. You were never sad. At least you did not show any signs of sadness when I was around you. You loved to talk about your plans and your projects. You laughed as you hustled over your quick legs on the busy Kingston streets.
Your memory is here with me this morning as strong as ever. As I think about you I remember the last time I went to the neighbourhood mall. It was just this week. I saw three women in three different sections of the mall all walking with canes. The first one was a young woman with a distorted face. I gave thanks that I noticed her. The second woman also had a cane that she held with her strong hand; the other hand was limp. The third woman walked more steadily than the rest but still held on to her cane for support. Why are there so many women out walking today with canes? Were they able to enjoy the sweet scents just before their dawns?
Never lose your laugh
You know why I laugh. You know that I am at that place. I could not fool you even if I tried. The truth is that many of us are at that place but we hold back the laughs. We just do not have the time and the peace to experience the laughs. I am now inviting you to laugh with me today because we will not allow life’s pressures to hold us down. We will not stay in our beds in the mornings and miss out on nature’s spectacular show. Why should we lie down and tolerate such a load on our chests. We must rise and stretch off the old day. We must rise to be with nature and have fellowship with our angels.
Today we are going to enjoy the angel of laughter who gives us release. We will enjoy his scent as he kisses our feet and laugh like we are silly teenagers. We will pay attention to our angel’s words as he waves goodbye on the last mist of the dawn. We will listen to the few words of the homeless child as we think about what went wrong. We will toss away all useless man made undergarments so that our lungs can be filled with all the air we need to laugh.
Ah, the satisfaction after completing another chapter…May we never ever lose our laughs. Thank you Dave for begging me never to lose my laugh.
Ann Marie – I am speechless! THanks so much for sharing this with me and all my readers. It is beautiful. And of course, it is in full alignment with “free and laughing”. Can’t wait for your book!
Love and blessings
Marguerite
This is wonderful Ms. Campbell, thank you for sharing and thank you Marguerite for having this site.I had to read it twice to make sure I did not miss the anything. I needed this. Marguerite, thanks for putting me on the road to be “free and laughing”.
Vicki
You’re welcome Marguerite. I will keep you posted.
You are most welcome Vicki – it’s a joy to have company on the free and laughing journey!