Global Belly Laugh Day, January 24, Celebrate the Great Gift of Laughter

Portland, OR (PRWEB) January 14, 2009 -- Have you put Global Belly Laugh Day, January 24 on your calendar?

On Global Belly Laugh Day we celebrate the laughs and smiles that transform our moments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the 7 continents.

"Oh what a difference Global Belly Laugh Day, January 24 makes," notes Elaine Helle, founder of Global Belly Laugh Day.

On Global Belly Laugh Day, January 24, 2008 the world was filled with glorious laugh out loud moments. At 1:24 p.m. (local time) people all over the world stopped to smile, throw their arms in the air and laugh out loud. They joined the Belly Laugh Bounce 'Round the World.

On January 24, 2008 belly laughs were bounced around the world from corporations, medical centers, senior centers, grocery stores, homes, schools, libraries, museums, organizations, families, restaurants, air planes, radio stations and coffee shops.

On Global Belly Laugh Day, January 24, 2008 belly laughs were bounced from countries all over the world:

From South Africa - South Africa's News and Information Leader SAfm 104-107 www.safm.co.za station delighted their listeners with an hour of laughing out loud and sharing stories of laughter moments.

From India and the United States - Employees and customers connected with shared laughter over the telephone.

From Valdez, Alaska - A group of seven braved the cold bundled up, laughed and warmed their minds, bodies and spirits with a Global Belly Laugh Day celebration.

From San Diego, California - Laughers in San Diego California gathered between the Lily Pond and Botanical Garden at Balboa Park not to chortle or chuckle but to really belly laugh and celebrate.

From Portland, Oregon - Elementary school children arrived with serious learning objectives. The teachers and children created a joyful learning community with a Global Belly Laugh Day celebration.

Why do we celebrate the great gift of laughter?

"I celebrate Belly Laugh Day and encourage my business leader clients to do so as well. It is amazingly refreshing to encourage mirthful laughter and play in the workplace. Global Belly Laugh Day helps remind us not to take ourselves to seriously particularly given the stressful challenges we face in business these days."

Joseph Michelli, Ph.D. www.josephmichelli.com - author The New Gold Standard: 5 Leadership Principles for Creating a Legendary Customer Experience Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company www.josephmichelli.com

Melia Dicker www.reschoolyourself.com (Reschool Yourself is a year-long exploration of how school shaped the person I became, and how I decide to educate myself from now on.) "When I returned to my schools I noticed the teachers who connected most with the students encouraged a lot of laughter in the classroom. They infused a sense of play throughout the day and didn't mind looking silly. I found myself laughing almost constantly, especially with the little ones, because they do such ridiculously funny things." My Reschooling tool #9 is to laugh at the silliest things.

From now until January 24, 2009 practice for your celebratory Global Belly Laugh Day laugh out loud moment. Everytime you laugh out loud and open the great gift of laughter you boost your immune system, reduce stress hormones, increase positive energy, connection, creativity, happiness, joy and bliss. On January 24 wake up and exclaim, "It is January 24, Belly Laugh Day, yeah!" A start-of-the-day positive mood will impact your entire day. To supercharge your laughter on Global Belly Laugh Day, January 24 call and laugh out loud with family, friends and colleagues around the world at 1:24 p.m. their time.

Vicky and Jen "What really matters" www.vickyandjen.com asked some laughter experts - children, "In addition to laughing out loud at 1:24 p.m. how would you like to celebrate Global Belly Laugh Day Saturday, January 24?"

Jasmine (6 years old) thinks we should laugh at the top of every hour. And she wants to stay up late!

Jade (4 years old) wants to have a tickle fest early in the morning.

Aidan (6 years old) wants to do a silly dance with his mom for 30 minutes on Belly Laugh Day.

On Global Belly Laugh Day, January 24 open and celebrate the great gift of laughter. Wherever you are in the world on January 24 at 1:24 p.m. (local time) smile, throw your arms in the air and laugh out loud. Join the Belly Laugh Bounce 'Round the World.

Send your Global Belly Laugh Day stories to jan24@ bellylaughday.com

Global Belly Laugh Day, January 24 is a happy, healthy, high achievement, laugh with me, 21st Century holiday.

Visit www.bellylaughday.com to jump start your celebration of Global Belly Laugh Day, January 24. Your laughter and positive emotions are contagious. Thank you for letting us catch your laughter.

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