Thestar.com
'Laughter leader' promotes work's light side Pam Tracz, was born in Guyana, South America, before moving to London, England
Mark McNeil
The Hamilton Spectator

Pam Tracz says stressful workplaces could benefit by having more laughter.

As nurses, we had to find some way to release the stress. So we would laugh. Most workplaces don't have enough laughter. A study found children laugh 400 times a day, whereas adults a mere 15 times. That is because when we grow older we are subjected to stress and all the different pressures we get around the world.

People are finding that when they introduce laughter into their workplaces a lot of things happen. For example, it fosters good team spirit, high self esteem and positive energy. They say a laugh a day is definitely good for healing.

I once delivered a 13 lb 8 oz baby girl while working as a pupil midwife on call in Bedford (England). She looked like she was maybe six months old. I weighed maybe about 98 pounds. After I delivered that baby my hands shook for more than a week ... It was a very difficult delivery, what we call impacted shoulders because the baby was so large. I had to pull out all my knowledge and project what I wanted to see -- a healthy baby and mother.

My mother, my brother, my sister all (died) within six months. They were the eldest people in my family after my father died. I really didn't feel that I could carry on. (When something like this happens) we go into darkness.

You need to give yourself a mission and forgive these people for leaving you ... you come to terms with the fact that you are a spiritual being. You have unlimited potential and can move on. When you come to this realization, you just find the strength to do it. That's what I did, a lot of soul-searching.

You won't be happy unless you do what you're meant to be doing. I can honestly say I'm extremely happy. I've been very blessed. I have a wonderful husband, two wonderful children ...

What I would like to see is more opportunities for employees to have fun in the workplace. It increases productivity and reduces stress.


 
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