Lighten UP. How To Bring More Levity and Less Stress To Your Life

Learning to laugh at yourself more and lighten up is a SUPERPOWER! Adding more levity and less stress to your Life makes it so much more full and enjoyable. We can get caught up in the drama and trauma in Life, but there are ways to lighten up and not take things so seriously. When that happens, more Joy, Peace and Happiness are there for the having. And some gooooood laughs!

Adding more levity also enhances the experience of the people around you, attracts more of the energy you want to be around because you are starting with yourself first–the only person you can change.

One of the ways levity is defined is as “humor or frivolity, especially the treatment of a serious matter or in a manner lacking due respect.” “a lack of seriousness at an improper time.”

OMG, Can I Give You Examples!

Last year, we were in tech/dress rehearsal for a big concert which was to be later that day. One of the things I have done for most of my life is wear the hat of choreographer. I’ve worked on many different projects, but for the last 20 years I have worked exclusively with The Young People’s Chorus of NYC. They’re an internationally known children’s chorus and quite a big deal.

They travel all over the world to huge acclaim as well as compete in competitions at a very high level…and win! They perform at Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center and David Geffen Hall on the Lincoln Center Campus to name a few venues.

Rehearsals are very intense and stressful, particularly on concert day, there is no time or room for error or levity–particularly tech/dress rehearsals. They are timed to the second. These concerts feature upwards of 400 young singers ages 8-18. Yes, you read that right, I choreograph for over 400 children. The smallest division is about 50 but I am usually in a room of 100+ young people at a time. YIKES!

Anywho, just wanted to paint a picture of the sitch-chee-a-shun…

I Did Say There Was No Room For Levity Right?

Wey-all, I didn’t read the memo.. even though I know the deal…

Francisco (the Artistic Director and Founder) was on the stage with about 150 teenage kids rehearsing a very intense number from the opera Porgy and Bess. There were about 30 people in the house (sitting where the audience sits) including a film crew. And that’s where I was, sitting intently, watching for notes (corrections and suggestions for the performers) when an idea downloaded into my head.

Since time was of the essence, I wanted to get to Francisco quickly to pass on that brilliant idea I had in real time. Only problem was, I had forgotten what I was wearing…oh levity, oh levity, that good ol’ stress reliever!

I start running down the aisle to only remember THEN that I was wearing an oversized jumper with wide legs! One of those pant legs completely engulfed my right foot and I was goin’ DOWN. On the way I realized with Gratitude that I was just my head hitting the arms of the seats. That would’ve had a different ending.

THUD was the sound of the floor coming up to great me and I laid sprawled out, not unlike resembling the police line drawn on the sidewalk at the scene of a crime in the movies.

Now. It’s dead silent. EVERY. THING. STOPPED. And I mean, EVERYTHING.

While face down, I do a mental scan of my body, nope, nothing broken or fractured, AMAZING. And then it started. Loud, hysterical waves of laugher from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. LOUD, UNABASHED, UNEMCUMBERED, LAUGHTER. OMG, TALK ABOUT LEVITY!

Did Anyone Share In The Levity?

I heard shouting from the stage: “IS SHE OK, IS SHE OHHHHHH KAYYYYYY?” That was Francisco justa yellin’ away. At this point, I am surrounded by people but I hadn’t moved–they had to pull me up to sit I was laughing so hard. Francisco was still yelling & finally someone said, “I’m not sure…not sure if she’s crying or laughing.,,” Tears had been rolling down my face, shaking, I was laughing that hard.

Then I was pulled to my feet and guided back to where I had been sitting. You guessed it, I was still laughing. I did manage to scare the bloody crap outta people though, my dear beloved friend E was close to tears she was so scared. Sahwee honeyyyyy.

And still I laughed. It took a while to come back to earth. But while I was laughing, I couldn’t help but note the kids did not laugh. Now how could that be? Francisco had clamped down on them so hard they didn’t dare laugh apparently.

And more puzzling was no one mentioned it in the weeks to come. Did no one share in my levity? How could this be? I mean, these were TEENAGERS FOR GOODNESS SAKES! So I finally asked one of the boys (yeah, I know, I dared to ask a boy!)

His answer? “Oh yes, I saw you fall.” And then he proceeded to reenact it!!! I was ROFLMFAO ALL OVER AGAIN!

And the Moral of The Story Is…

Levity is the spice of Life! Had I not been able to laugh at that situation, I would’ve been totally mortified. Then my mind woulda been like, “how could you fall in front of ALL THOSE PEOPLE!?” “You are not going to be able to show your face to ANYONE!” “WHAT IF THE CAMERA CREW CAPTURED YOU??? IT WOULD BE IN THE DOCUMENTARY THEY’RE SHOOTING!!!!”

Then I would’ve told everyone I knew & been traumatized all over again with each telling. Replaying it over and over, feeling deepening shame each time. Mannnn…that’s just too much drama for me! I ain’t got time for that. Feelin’ good and livin’ Life fully with no regrets, that’s the ticket.

When we can lighten up, when we don’t take ourselves and the things we do so seriously, it opens the door for JOY to come through. I thoroughly enjoyed laughing at myself and instead of being all stressed out about it, I was Grateful I was unhurt. Heck, I was laughing in the retelling of this tale!

Rehearsal went on and we had a great show.

While You’re Still Here…

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