Caryl Derenfield shakes the hand of a onlooker walking by!
Katie and the sign
This Saturday in Chicago a large group gathered to laugh, play, and celebrate together all in the name of creating more levity in our world.
We held the belief that if we each chose to bring a greater sense of joy and lightness into our presence it would have a ripple effect wherever we were.
The Levity Project players frozen in Umbrella Hats greeting each person that walked by
What did people think?
Here is what one onlooker emailed to me after returning home:
“I was just in Chicago when you had the laughing party. I just have to say that was one of the best experiences of my life! I can’t wait for you to come to Detriot. I just got back home to Michigan a few hours ago and I’ve been telling everyone about this project, and they all want some part of it! You guys are great..keep it up!!”
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” -Victor Borge
What I love about running The Levity Project events is not only the energy it creates in a space, but the sense of empowerment it gives the “players”, the people participating in the event. The events aren’t just about creating change for others, but also creating it for ourselves.
Think about this:
Laughing under "The Bean" -We could not tell who was with our group and who wasn't!
How often in your life do you gather with a group of people and laugh?
And how often do you do that in a very public place?
Because the typical answer is “not that often”, experiencing the event as a player can be powerful. People who do not know each other who probably have different religious, political and social beliefs all come together to celebrate life. They come together to make a change, a difference.
This follows an idea I have been thinking a lot about lately for myself. I have seen that in each situation I can choose to employ two different types of thinking. One is telling “the story of division” and the other is telling “the story of unity”. What I mean by this is that we have the opportunity every day to choose between telling ourselves the story of separation, conflict, and disparateness or telling ourselves the story of possibility, connection, and commonality with others and the world.
Some of the awesome "Players" in Chicago
Even if we can not change a situation, we have a choice in how we view it. I find that when I allow “the story of unity” into my life and thinking, I am better able to see a solution or have perspective in what might be a better way to approach an idea.
What I was most struck by on November 7th with The Levity Project is not only the shared laughter and fun, but that every person who came to participate and ride on our fabulous double decker bus had the same vision of creating unity and connection through joy.
And that is what we did! Yahoo! Thank you to all who came and made it a success.
Please join me this week, letting the ripple effect of The Levity Project continue by allowing ourselves to tell the story of unity more than division as we meet people and situations every day this week.
When we allow ourselves to do that…I think we just naturally laugh more.
Feel free to share below any ways that you remind yourself to bring more joy into your daily life and tell the story of unity with others.
This is post 1 of 2 about The Levity Project:Chicago.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Looks like it was a huge success. I love the umbrella hats. They make me laugh every time.
I love how you are touching people’s hearts through laughter. After reading the quote from the person in Detroit, I’m thinking that they probably could use you. Their economy is really hurting right now.
Do you have any video like last time?
This is amazing Katie! Thank you for posting the photos, they really tell a story on their own!
I can only imagine how fun this whole event was! Woo-hoo! Way to go and congrats and most importantly thank you for adding such a valuable aspect of yourself to this world and humanity!
Yahoo!! Having been at this event, I can say that there was a real sense of joy in all the participants…and as well, it’s something that really seemed to also feel more natural and comfortable the more we did it. And that Victor Borge quote is right on – the more we laughed, the more everyone – strangers mostly – became very comfortable with everyone else! A truly great atmosphere to be in! Kudos to you, Katie, in creating an experience that was so positive and uplifting for everyone – participant and onlooker alike!
Love this idea and what a fun post. It makes me think of Larry Dossey’s work with groups of people visualizing healing for a person for an hour everyday and the person being healed could feel the energy and their physical ailments we healed sooner…
or the group of 4,000 who thought peace and non-violence in Washington DC and lowered the crime rate 25% in three months…
I am sure the world needs some laughter and as one who is intense…I am sure I need it right now too
Thank you for this work
I like Ellen’s joy – responding to you comment on twitter..
Thank you
Katie:
Thank you for sharing this report…looks like you had a great time! Yep, our world need more laughs and smiles so thank you for spreading this fun on Saturday!
Way to go Katie! I love Chicago and love seeing the joy you’ve added to the windy city.
So your going to Detroit? Let me know when and I’ll send my daughter and grandchildren to meet you. You and your project rock!
I think it’s so cool that you were in Chicago, doing what you do for many more people to see. I love that Lance was there, too (I saw the pictures on his blog). I can’t wait to participate in one of these events!
The idea of being unified instead of separated is so important, too, and as you said, laughter brings people together. There’s nothing in the world like laughter to break down barriers and help us make belly-to-belly connections. I love it!
I support what you do, and will help spread the word however I can. Just keep being awesome!
The other day in my kitchen I tried laughing just for the heck of it ato see if I could make myself laugh. It felt kinda forced and weird at furst but I ended up finding bonafide laughs coming out of me in a short while.
Okay I know it’s not NORMAL to laugh by yourself to see it you can make yourself laugh more, is it?
My husband and daughter and I will try this together and see what we find. And I’ll let you know!
Chicago, Chicago…
Whoops, had a mistake in my URL up there.
hee, hee, ha, ha, hoo, hoo, har, dee, har.
Laughing, natural anti depressant and good for the environment.
I loved the comment underneath one photo, “we could not tell who was with the group or not.
So it is contagious.
An awesome experience. It was so much fun being part of the project and observing everyone else in the process. I hope this is (at least) an annual event in Chicago and many other cities around the world. Thank you, Katie and Ina, for taking a relatively simple concept and making a profound difference. It can only help to make the world a kinder place.