Laughing and Lunching with the Ladies!

Anna (left) and Donna (right) were colleagues of mine many years ago. After I left the department, there had been a lapse of time before we connected again. All the fun and laughter we shared came back to us when we were lunching at my home a couple of days ago. Some things never change, and sometimes I am glad they don't.

The results of our consistent and exceptional work was acknowledged and awarded many times by senior management (in other departments) for product launches. Although we worked hard, we also made sure we enjoyed a laugh or two...maybe three. We believed laughter should be in the workplace, and we practiced that almost on a daily basis.

We had a Manager who unfortunately, did not believe in laughter: no sunny smile on her face. Her goal it seemed, was to ensure we would not laugh, could not laugh, or smile wide to anyone or about anything. We never figured out why she did not like to see us as a happy group. We certainly were making her look good by our exemplary work. Eventually, we resigned ourselves to the fact that some people do not want to be happy, and therefore, do not appreciate when they see other people smiling.

Nontheless, no matter what actions she may have taken, we managed not to let her break our spirit. We kept our sunny smiles and laughed outloud when things were humorous. I will always remember those good times; they still bring a smile to my face. Laughing is an important component for the soul, and that is just what we did - fed our soul full of laughter. :)