Dance & Humor for Recovery

Judy recently shared the following on her Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) e-mail group. I found it so useful that I asked her to allow it to be published here. Judy readily agreed.

Good morning group, When I read the daily reading on losing a sense of humor it reminded me …

I had to learn to play. When I came to ACA some of the members encouraged me to play by asking what I had never done as a child that I wanted to do.

I wanted to learn to roller skate and I wanted a bicycle. I went out and bought a used pair of skates and a used bike.

My friends took me roller skating and held my hand around the rink until I could go it alone.

It was fun but what I discovered was that what I really wanted to do was dance.

I gave away my skates and took dance lessons and I’ve been dancing for joy and relaxation for the past 20 years. When I don’t have a dance partner I line dance and enjoy that almost as much as couple dancing.

I like to watch comedy too. I think that joy and laughter is very healing. There is a book and a movie called “The Anatomy of an Illness”. In that story the author explains how joy healed him when nothing else could.

When I was in the worst depression of my life a dear friend suggested a book that got him through the illness and death of his wife. I went out and found that book and it truly did make me laugh when I was crying. I’d wake up at night unable to sleep and open that book and laugh out loud.

I later discovered there was a series by this author by Patrick McManus. If you want to laugh read his books. I have them all and have read them many times, they are a source of great joy to me even now after all these years.

My wish for all of us is the capability of finding joy every day.

Hugs,

Judy