Coping with daily stress through laughter
Replaying awful moments seals them in our brain. Memories of abuse or bad feelings will pounce without warning causing the blood pressure to rise, the heart to race, increase anxiety and even give us the blues.
Couldn’t that same replaying of the great moments over and over cause the wonderful times to get stuck in our heads as well?
Those suffering with real depression and debilitating anxiety should not take this to heart if you are unable to bounce back from what ails the mind, heart and body. You have what is different and should be addressed by a professional.
However, for daily stress, recalling funny family moments has a great effect. When one person laughs, it is hard to not at least crack a smile. My family memories have lifted me up over the years. Even though my sister and I lost our mother 15 years ago, telling the funny things Momma said and did keeps her memory alive and makes me happy to think about her. Everything looks brighter when I remember just how funny and joyful she was.
One of my favorite stories she told was when she knocked the old rooster out. It wouldn’t shut up, so she went outside, picked up a rock and threw at the old rooster, expecting to scare it away. The rock struck just right and down that rooster went. She just knew it was dead. She just knew her daddy was going to kill her. She grabbed a bucket of water and doused him good and up from there that old rooster came! She said she was never so glad to hear a rooster crow in her life!
Then there was the time she knocked out a momma sow. My mother would never hurt anything or anyone out of meanness, but she and my step-dad were building a hog pen when he got between momma pig and her babies. He didn’t realize it but my momma saw that sow headed straight for him! She started hollering and reached for the first thing she could get her hands on! My dad turned around in time to see my tiny, 5-foot-mom swing a pole and lay his prized swine on the ground. Don’t worry. She didn’t kill the sow. It got back to its feet and everything returned to normal.
For those times we get into situations where we don’t have time for reminiscing, we have to find another way. About a year
or so ago, I was trying to figure out how to block the thoughts that were attacking me in the morning as I was getting ready for work. You know, stupid stuff that someone said or did that made me feel bad, or made me mad. I made that my prayer concern and in no time a song came to mind: June Carter Cash’s “Keep On The Sunny Side.”
I love music that has the old sound to it, so this just fits. I can’t remember anything but the chorus. You can search YouTube to hear her and Johnny sing it. I found the chorus online: “Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side
Keep on the sunny side of life It will help us everyday, it will brighten all the way
If we keep on the sunny side of life.”
Throughout my life, I encountered people who whistle and they seem to be joyful people. This is sort of the same thing. Soon, singing this chorus to myself has become a great habit and helps me to be more joyful. I’ve noticed that I have a better handle on situations than I’ve ever had. God’s grace is amazing!
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In honor of Johnny and June and what June’s song has done in my life, I want to tell you about Johnny’s restored home in Dyess. It is a glimpse into another time with its unpainted wooden walls, antique furniture and its magic mirror! You have to go to experience the mirror!
Johnny’s daddy, Ray, brought his family to Dyess in 1935 during President Roosevelt’s administration. The Cash family received 20 acres of fertile bottomland with a five-room house, all with no money down. The house appeared in the movie, “I Walk The Line,” and is now owned by Arkansas State University.
Tickets are available at the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home Visitor Center located at 110 Center St. in Dyess with tours held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can either ride their bus or follow behind as you make your way through the backroads to reach the house.
Go out and make some great memories to replace those old cantankerous ones that don’t want to leave without some coaxing and remember to keep on the sunny side!
Brenda Clark may be reached at brendastuddardclark@gmail.com.