[Klara]

ok, so you and I hog the site for a while til someone else jumps in. I noticed there are over 1000 members here, all are just lurking????

Humor is exactly what Patch Adams is all about - I loved the movie with Robin Williams, tho remember hearing from some source that even that was too Hollywood. You noticed the calendar of his (Patch, not Robin) speaking engagement, one is planned for NY?

Humor is about being light - and open to life - and daring to be different -what's amazing is that he used this for all kinds of serious medical conditions - but after Norman Cousins bringing it to the world, it all does make sense. I once had a friend who had the ability to make others laugh, he said he just puts everything into an extreme light. I tried the Yoga Laughter that's supposed to also be very healing, but didn't care for the forced feeling of it. Just didn't sit right. so I agree 100% with the philosophy, but not sure of the how's - ok, I can smile plenty (people say I do) but I want belly laughter - is it something you're born with?? a talent?? learned?? a mind set which first needs to be tweaked, like getting rid of judgmentalness, so could laugh at everything??

But for healing, Patch talks about lots of things - what you already talked about, honesty, and humor. But also about relationships, having lots of friends, real friends. I think alot of us are alone, and I do believe it's not right, oh sorry, no right and wrong, it's not healthy - where's the give and take, where's the sharing and opening of heart, where's the being concerned for another human being, where's the letting go and compromise, where's the playing with others???? Again, I'm certainly not talking about I got it folks so should all of you - I think I spend more time alone than with others, and no, I don't have loads of people I can call friends. And yes, I feel it's a big lack in my life. But where I am now I don't want to fill my life with just noise - I want real - so for now I am ok with being more alone time.

I also agree with the walk choice - today I had to leave my car in the garage - and I hitched home - got to stop in several places on the way back and it was nice, because I'm always driving past these places, but never getting out and walking there. Also wonder why we are always in a hurry to "get there?" What's wrong with here??

Just put Ram Dass's site into my favorites and will read at leisure. Thanks for that.

Klara