I am just so excited about this idea which goes live on July 15th. It will start in 1 city in the US and it is my hope that it spreads throughout the whole county…and these days, really why not the world?
On July 15th, 12:00pm EST a group of people will gather in a historical square of Portland, Maine. They will not talk to each other, they will not do anything formal or organized together. Yet, all the people that gather that day will be doing one thing in common.
They will be laughing.
Some will have their cell phone and pretending to be in a deeply funny and amusing conversation. Others will find particular humor in a book they are reading. Two friends on a bench will be sharing their mirth over a secret joke. And I will be there, with my coffee cup in hand smiling and laughing to myself.
But perhaps even more remarkable are the city goers who don’t know why these people are laughing.
Passerbys on their hurried way to lunch or to meet another. Shoppers stopping at the Farmer’s Market in the same square. Dates meeting over lunch at the sidewalk cafes. What will be remarkable is that laughter will enter their lives, no matter what they are thinking about, what just happened, or where they need to go.
For 15 minutes, laughter will fill the air and connect these strangers by hearing it and perhaps, even laughing themselves.
Just hearing laughter can start to stimulate a shift in our mood, and pretending to laugh (or practicing laughter) can alter our body chemistry since our brains can not tell the difference between real and fake laughter. Laughter is an express train to a better mood without changing a single situation in our lives. By laughing, we essentially pick ourselves up and give ourselves a better vantage point from which to view our life. And it works, it really truly works.
If you are in Maine, please join us for 15 minutes on July 15th at Noon. Contact Katie for further instructions.
If you are somewhere else, join us on July 15th at 12:00 noon EST laughing for 15 minutes. Laughing for No Reason. If you join us, please shoot a video and we will post it on this site.
And someone has asked already: How do you laugh for 15 minutes? Just start by saying Ha Ha Ho Ho Hee Hee and play with it. Your brain will think you are actually laughing and after a few minutes you’ll start really laughing. Enjoy the process!
15 minutes is a series sponsored by The Levity Project whose mission is to create systemic social change by shifting the societal paradigm to one of buoyancy, joy play, and laughter. 15 minutes is a social experiment in creating change through laughter.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Well, laughter is notoriously contagious… sounds like it just might work!
Hey Katie,
Have fun laughing! Hope you amass a crowd there!
Stay cool!
Evelyn
That will be an amazing and uplifting sight! I unfortunately will be out of state in New York, but I hope this first of many 15 minutes will be fantastic!
You have to listen to this podcast from Radio Lab. Radio Lab is a New York public radio show that explores human topics with a curious / scientific approach.
This is a show they did on Laughter. You might get a kick out of it
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/episodes/2008/02/22
It is available as a podcast.
OMG, I so love that idea and wish I could be there with you for the First Annual laugh-fest. I’ll be there in spirit!
I love Portland, ME, was there for one day and night with my husband many years ago. I miss the Northeast sooooo much.
Hi Katie,
I love this idea – it just takes a seed to start a a tree. And a few seeds to start a forest! What a great concept to spread good in the world!!
Hi Katie,
I love this idea. I am all for laughing. It truly is the best medicine. How I wish I could be there to take part. But I can be there in spirit.
Thanks for this. I did this exercise with a small group as part of a transformational workshop. I’ve done it sometimes since by myself as a way of getting comfortable with feeling embarrassment and awkwardness. I highly recommend it!