LAFOLOT

and, just a SMILE as a Prop!

Remember the song, ‘You’re never fully dressed without a smile!’

I had the opportunity to present my Helen of LAFOLOT Variety Show (singing, humorist story telling) to a Women’s church group, last Sunday. I was told the age group would be from 2 to 92! I said: ‘No problem! I can handle it!’ Well, it went beautifully! I allowed the ‘kids’ the opportunity to join me ‘on stage’ and be my backup singers/act. With ‘little instruction’ they WENT WITH IT: Smiling, Sitting and Looking Pretty, Dancing Around, etc. I received many compliments of appreciation after the show; thanking me for including the children. I said I thought they’d be happier being a part of it, rather than having to just sit in a chair. It was a win/win situation!

After I was done ‘doing my thing’, they had some fun games arranged with prizes. I was sitting off to the side in one of the ‘kiddie’ chairs, just relaxing and enjoying myself. Just like with wild animals or pets, when you DON’T PAY ATTENTION or GIVE EYE CONTACT – the shy animal will approach.

Well, a little, strawberry blonde, blue-eyed girl slowly walks over towards me and steps up onto a cart platform next to my chair. I smile and she just STARES! (HA HA) Don’t you just LOVE it when kids do that?

So I say, ‘Hi! How are you?’
She JUST STARES.
I say, as I put a SMILE on my face: ‘Can you give me a SMILE?’
She JUST STARES.
I say, ‘how about a frown? Can you give me a frown? ‘ I do my best pouty face frown.
She JUST STARES.
I say, ‘I know! What faces DO YOU like to make?’ [I'm thinking I'm a real smart one here, coming up with some wonderful method to get this child to respond!]
She JUST STARES!

*sigh … I’m running out of conversation, and this kid is continuing to JUST STARE!

So, I put a FROZEN GRIN on my face and say, through my gritting teeth: ‘Oh no! My mouth is stuck, I can’t stop smiling. Oh my! What am I going to do?’

She JUST STARES!

I continue that a few seconds longer and then RELEASE the SMILE with a look of relief, saying: ‘*PFEW! I thought my mouth was stuck! Glad it came loose!’

She JUST STARES!

*sigh sigh sigh … okay – one more try!
I put another FROZEN GRIN on my face, and go through the ‘stuck smile’ routine AGAIN [if at first you don't succeed, try try again].

I say: ‘Oh My! I’m stuck again with the smile! What am I going to do?’
NO RESPONSE – She’s just staring!

I say: ‘What if I SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE it? Maybe it will come loose?’
So I SHAKE my head side to side and release the SMILE. ‘Thank goodness!’ I say, ‘It worked!’

She JUST STARES!

BUT! A woman across the room who had been watching me with the little girl, tapped her friend on the shoulder as she saw me and LET OUT A LAUGH!

*pfew! I still got it! I may not have gotten the little girl to respond, but I got a smile and laugh out of an adult across the room!

So, wherever you go, whatever you do, DON’T FORGET YOUR SMILE! Sometimes, it’s the ONLY PROP you’ll have.
And, remember – ‘You’re never fully dressed without a smile!’ (as the song says)

Spread those ‘smiles by the miles’
Live Life! Laugh Often!
and maybe you’ll win a STARING CONTEST with a little 2 year old!

Helen Szollosy of LAFOLOT
Stay Sweet!
www.lafolot.com and can also be seen at: Vibrant Nation under BLOG name ‘Helenoflafolot’

Tags: awareness, Camp Hill, Carlisle PA, communication, Connecting, Ha Ha Helen, health and wellness, Helen Szollosy, lafolot, Laughter, laughter therapy, mechanicsburg, Motivational Speaker, smile, Social, stress relief, toddler, Vibrant Nation, Wellness, Women

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 18th, 2010 at 9:39 am and is filed under Ha Ha Helen Blog.