Lizzie's Laughter

In the Health and Wellbeing edition of Wellspring (Issue 1, 2009), I wrote about how I deal with the pressures of my various jobs. This time I have decided to focus more on the personal side of being well and staying happy.

When I was younger, I always enjoyed reading the Reader's Digest, especially the page called ‘Laughter is the Best Medicine'. I have to agree with that title, as without a good laugh with my family and friends I am sure I would often feel lonely and depressed.

I feel very lucky that I am able live at home with my parents and older sister. I often think how different my life might be if I did live independently, but I feel that I would find it quite difficult as I love the company of having family around, even if we are all busy in separate rooms.

I am glad that I enjoy all the jobs that I do and I find emotional satisfaction from completing my tasks! When I am not working, there are so many activities I like to do. Last term I joined the adult choir at the school where I work and I have found that singing can be a great way to relax! It has also helped my breathing to feel stronger.

I go to the Hans Feibusch Club at Pallant House Gallery on Thursday afternoons and really like trying out different techniques and media as well as meeting like minded creative people. My college tutor Bet who I have known for 8 years has become a very best friend and she helps me at the club. We always enjoy our chats and often have to remind ourselves to get on with the activity. Recently, we got into the lift to go to the upstairs gallery, and wondered why it was not moving. After a couple of minutes we realised it was because we hadn't pressed any buttons – we were too busy talking!

Some of my best laughing moments are with my sister and carer/best friend Sheryl. We can spend hours just talking, sharing ideas and offloading problems with each other. I feel very lucky that I have had Sheryl in my life since 2001; we very often find ourselves putting the world to rights in the bathroom, and everybody wondering where we have gone!

Sheryl's daughters are also an enormous part of our family life. Jennah (9) started coming with Sheryl just after her first birthday and Kory (5) has been coming her whole life. Having the girls coming as part of our week gives us all a good opportunity to play and feel enjoy young energy. In my head I think I am about 12 years old, so it is fun to be able to reuse all our childhood toys and books!

My pets and farm animals give me a great deal of pleasure and a lot of laughs too. Our six cats all have very individual personalities and we all enjoy watching how they relate to each other and to us. Our dogs, Holly and Jack are two more huge characters. They love to sit on the sofa and watch television with us and Holly recognises the tune when Neighbours begins! Jack takes his role of escorting me to work in the car very seriously. We often say that we are just the people who happen to live in their house! Watching the farm animals going about their daily lives is always interesting. I often wonder what makes one duck decide to go somewhere, then the other three all follow!

In conclusion, I would say that talking and laughing with friends and family is probably the best way to achieve emotional wellbeing. A problem shared is not always a problem solved, but it does help to discuss things and listen to everybody's point of view.

Lizzie Baily lizzie@wellspringwestsussex.org.uk