Surviving

1/18/02

For the last couple of months I've been conducting workshops in Los Angeles Area Wellness Communities.

Wellness Communities are organizations that provide free services for cancer patients and their families: support groups, classes in yoga and nutrition, etc. Primarilly because of Norman Cousins and his book "The Anatomy of an Illness," the Wellness Communities have a deep foundation in a belief in the healing power of laughter. Though there is a lot of legitimate controversy about whether or not laughter actually heals anything, everyone recognizes laughter as a healthy alternative to feeling depressed and victimized by illness.

I wanted to see how receptive they would be to a broader notion of fun - not just laughter, but just fun. I generally start with a "fun survey" - asking participants to list everything they do for fun. Everything. From watching TV to partying to playing with cats.

My findings: this conversation alone is healing. Or wholing. People start smiling and even laughing when they hear each other's confessions. People find themselves acknowledging whole parts of their daily lives that are somehow vital to them. Because they are not experiences that necessarily produce laughter, they have not been identified as having anything to do with wellness. And yet, after a fifteen minute brainstorm, they suddenly perceive how important fun is to them, how lifegiving, how valid.

And then of course we play games and talk more about fun and play more games. It feels VERY good doing this work with cancer survivors.

I hope (money willing) to extend this work to every recovery program I can find. I have no evidence that this is helping them overcome cancer.

But I have a definite feeling that it is helping them embrace life.