Living on the Smile Side of Life

Today I watched a segment of CBS Mornings, July 22, 2025. The story was about Gilda Radner, and her battle with ovarian cancer. Alan Zwiebel revealed his calls with Gilda, how she told him the bad news, and ask specifically that he help her laugh about it. It reminded me of my friend Madeline Hoffer, who called me to tell me about her bad news - and told me she called because she wanted me to help her laugh. And laugh we did. Unable to visit in person because of a broken foot, I promised I would laugh with her in person as soon as the boot came off. It was our last conversation, and yes, it is our laughter I will remember her by.

What is Well-Being? Well-being is the part of Wellness that involves all the elements contributing to life satisfaction. Developing well-being enhancing habits can add to your resilience - your ability to manage when things get difficult and stressful. Some well-being habits also help with wellness, which incorporates both your physical and emotional health. A two for one!

Noreen Braman helps you, your employees, members, clients, event attendees, and others boost well-being, discover meaning and purpose, and support resilience for when life is not so funny!

Learn how laughter helped human survival, how baby laughter is diabolical, benefits of laughter, and more!

In this section, I discuss Reinventions and How the Affects Your Personal Mission and Vision, Also - what are we doing with time? This is the last section to be read. The print book, which will soon have a second edition sans typos :) contains inspiring quotes, further reading, and some extra credit work. You can purchase the book directly from the publisher  https://www.lulu.com/shop/noreen-braman/what-gets-you-out-of-bed-in-the-morning/paperback/product-zmkwgnm.html?srsltid=AfmBOoogwbhH6QQzvj2M1F2azfjALrhuIVcABrNuI8IcX3dFSsxbhakI&page=1&pageSize=4 The first edition, which gives you the "spot the typos" game has a publication date of July 27, 2024. For a "hopefully" cleaned up edition, look for a new date. I've got my mission and purpose for this. :)

President Trump's executive order on gender had an unintended consequence. #Colbert #Comedy #ColdOpens #DonaldTrump #StephenColbert #TheLateShow Subscribe To "The Late Show" Channel: http://bit.ly/ColbertYouTube Watch full episodes of "The Late Show": http://bit.ly/1Puei40 Listen to "The Late Show Pod Show" podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/Awagtx95?sid=yt Like "The Late Show" on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1df139Y Follow "The Late Show" on X: http://bit.ly/1dMzZzG Follow "The Late Show" on Instagram: http://bit.ly/29wfREj Watch The Late Show with Stephen Colbert weeknights at 11:35 PM ET/10:35 PM CT. Only on CBS. --- Stephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology and more. Featuring bandleader Louis Cato and “THE LATE SHOW band,” the Peabody Award-winning and Emmy Award-nominated show is broadcast from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater. Stephen Colbert took over as host, executive producer and writer of THE LATE SHOW on Sept. 8, 2015.

In this chapter, Noreen Braman introduces the three parts of finding your purpose, creating Purpose, Mission, and Vision Statements. And don't forget to bring your Watchword from Episode 1. Noreen also shares her origin story.

No matter what our stage of life, from being a young career striver through retirement years, we face life challenges, some of them coming about without your choice or control. Especially, the journey through midlife and beyond can be an unsettling time. As parts of life change, it creates the perfect opportunity to re-examine one's sense of meaning and purpose, to create fresh vision for the road that lies ahead.

'The Impossible Dream’ is the title track from Aaron Lazar’s debut album IMPOSSIBLE DREAM. Featuring an all-star cast of artists from the theater and pop world: Kristin Chenoweth, Josh Groban, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kelli O'Hara, Leslie Odom, Jr, Liz Callaway, Neil Patrick Harris, STING and many more! *Proceeds from the sale of the album will benefit the ALS Network and Aaron Lazar who continues to face ALS with unwavering resilience.* Purchase CD/Vinyl/Digital Download: https://hypeddit.com/impossibledream iTunes here: https://music.apple.com/us/album/impossible-dream/1758398622?ls=1&app=itunes ABOUT THE ALBUM This inspiring nine-song collection features a remarkable roster of Lazar's friends, supporters, and artistic idols, including multi-platinum singer, songwriter, and Tony nominee Josh Groban; Tony and multiple Emmy winning film star Neil Patrick Harris; Tony and Grammy Award-winning, three-time Emmy and two-time Academy Award-nominee Leslie Odom, Jr.; 17-time Grammy Award-winning icon Sting; Pulitzer Prize, Grammy, Emmy, and Tony award-winning songwriter, actor, director and producer Lin-Manuel Miranda; Tony and Emmy winner Kristin Chenoweth; Tony Winner and Emmy and Grammy Nominee Kelli O’Hara; the late Rebecca Luker (three-time Tony nominee); Tony and Grammy nominee Norm Lewis;  multi-platinum recording artist and voice from “The Greatest Showman,” Loren Allred; and many more. Directed and Edited by: Jonathan Estabrooks Video Produced by: Kitt Wakeley Director of Photography: Janeivy Hilario Production Manager/Choral Conductor: Sydney Anderson Assistant Production Manager: Jim Semmelman Sound Engineers: Brian Viberts Arranger/Orchestrator: Charlie Rosen Vocal Arranger/Conductor: David Das A Cam Operator: Janeivy Hilario B Cam Operator, Lighting and Grip: Jarell Mique C Cam Operator: Miguel Gallardo Videographer: Sarowar Ahmed Label: Lexicon Classics © 2024, Studio Seven Media LLC Impossible Dream is produced by Grammy winner Kitt Wakeley, Jonathan Estabrooks, and Aaron Lazar in association with Studio Seven Media and Emitha Studios. Additional producers include David Das, Christina Giacona, Patrick Conlon, and Sydney Anderson (vocal producer, "Fight the Dragons" and "The Impossible Dream"). For a full list of credits, visit http://www.lexiconclassics.com/impossible-dream. #broadway #impossibledream #aaronlazar #broadwayforals #endALS #JoshGroban #STING #KristinChenoweth #NeilPatrickHarris #ShoshaunaBean #LinManuelMiranda

Five Fun Facts in a Flash! Why you need laughter in your life - it's not optional!

Some of the presentations, workshops, and classes from The Smile Side of Life Laughter & Happiness Club from Noreen Braman, CLYL, CLWI

Laughter is an important aspect of Well-Being, and has existed since before humans had language, or even a "sense of humor." Take a journey through laughter's history, learn about laughter's support of resilience, and enjoy some laughter exercises that do not rely on comedy or jokes!

Noreen Braman is a certified Laughter Wellness Instructor who studied the Psychology of Laughter at Rutgers University. She added the Science of Happiness through The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and belongs to the Association for Applied & Therapeutic Humor (AATH). She presents laughter for the health of it through her Smile Side of Life interactive presentations and workshops. She continues to add to her knowledge base through continuing education and professional development. In addition, Noreen is an instructor at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Rutgers University. She shares well-being with organizations nationwide as well as internationally. More information about how to bring the Smile Side of Life to your conference, meeting, retreat, or community group at: https://speaker.innovationwomen.com/user/8354 www.njlaughter.com Happy Boy End Theme by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100648 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Quick animation I did for the Smile Side of Life to use as an opener to videos.

This interview was co-hosted with Iris Goldfeder, CEO of Gas Stove Creative. It was such fun. Noreen Braman is the founder of The Smile Side of Life Laughter & Happiness Club, and is all about the healing power of laughter. She's literally a hoot! After a few rounds of reinvention, including a contentious divorce, corporate downsizing due to an economic recession of historic proportions, and facing her own midlife issues, she took her skills as a strategic communications professional, humorist, and performer in a new direction. Laughter is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth Noreen shared how laughter transformed her life and career after several personal and professional challenges. Reinventing herself after a contentious divorce, corporate downsizing, and midlife issues, she leveraged her skills as a strategic communications professional and humorist in a new direction to inspire others. "When I was 50, I had to rethink my whole life and it set me on this path. I found that you do end up having a reassessment of your personal mission and vision. There's something important about that midlife part of your life that tells you what is it that you really wanted to do. What is the thing that really makes you happy, really feels like you're giving something to the world? And I have found it through laughter Wellness." She shared more about how laughter has been a healing part of her journey, helping her survive difficult periods and build resilience. "Laughter has helped me hold things together when things were not funny. I've built my resilience through laughter. After going through a divorce, going through some health things, laughter holds me over." Laughter has a significant role in workplace dynamics Noreen uses laughter to break the ice in a variety of professional scenarios, especially with lawyers. She emphasized the importance of incorporating laughter into corporate situations, noting that if everything is taken too seriously, nothing becomes serious. She recalled, "With dentists and lawyers, it can be difficult for them to let go because they feel they're very serious people doing very serious work. But if you can bring humor in, it becomes a pattern interrupt." Braman also stressed the positive impact of laughter in creating a more harmonious and productive work environment. Laughter can be learned and practiced as an exercise The conversation turned to how laughter can be practiced as an exercise and used as a tool to release endorphins, reduce stress, and energize individuals. She shared a simple laughter exercise involving three laughter sounds – ho, ha, and he – associated with different parts of the body. It was fun and quite relaxing, give it a try. Here’s how you do it… there are three laughter sounds ho ho ho, ha ha ha, he he he. Breathe in through your nose out through your mouth vocalize that laughter sound. If you do this a few times, it releases endorphin, it raises your heart rate, it energizes you for wherever you have to go to speak somewhere." The brain doesn't know the difference between pretend and genuine laughter, so even making the sounds can trick the brain into releasing feel-good hormones. This simple exercise can be done quietly too. Visit Noreen's website to learn more and connect. https://www.smilesideoflife.com/ #TheReal50over50 #wisdomrevolution #womenempoweringwomen #liveinterview

Blasts from the Past   "I find that the further I go back, the better things were, whether they happened or not."  - Mark Twain  

1. Introduction Treading Water is a slightly damp collection of Noreen Braman's previously published humor essays and columns. You'll be grateful that your life isn't full of watery adventures, misbehaving dogs, care plans gone awry, and varmint that don't give up. "You can't save someone from drowning if you're barely trading water yourself." - Eddie Vetter