LAUGH DETROIT! An initiative by “A Merry Heart”, a non-profit organization, determined to spark laughter and infuse positive energy into the ever-needing city of Detroit.
What started out as just an event to plan for World Laughter Day on May 2, 2010 – an event in which I was determined to beat the Guinness record for the most people laughing together in one place – that place being, greater than 10,000 laughing together for absolutely no reason in Hart Plaza, Detroit, Michigan, has suddenly become so much more. I had envisioned such an event ever since I trained as a Laughter Yoga teacher in 2005, but you know how it is, life itself has a way of getting in the way. First my shyness held me back, then a ridiculous amount of work, next cancer and now after a curious change of events, I find myself free at last. Even so, my first thought was only of an event. Very quickly the focus has changed. Yes, we will still laugh on World Laughter Day, but not in Hart Plaza….not yet, but under the fountain on Belle Isle. We will still break the Guinness record at Hart Plaza….but not quite yet. Right now there are more important challenges.
Personally, I am so tired of hearing nothing but doom and gloom about everything, but especially about the Detroit area. It is true, we have the highest unemployment rate in the entire country, the education system is in shambles, births to unwed teenage girls are on the rise, divorce, crime, violence….all a BIG huge helping of not good! And what are we doing to change all of that, simply regurgitating the same bad news day in and day out on TV, radio and newspaper?
Detroit may have not a whole lot to laugh about, but for sure, Detroit needs to LAUGH! Detroit desperately needs to laugh in order to change not only their perception of themselves, but to change the perception of the State, the country…heck, of the world!
Changing the world, one laugh at a time? No, we will never change the world, we may never change the politics in Detroit, but what we can do is create a more positive energy within ourselves by learning to laugh…for absolutely NO reason! The world will never change, but we can.
I am looking for at least 25 people to train AT NO COST as Certified Laughter Yoga Leaders who are willing and able to take this message to the people of Detroit - people who are tired of the negative, people willing to spread laughter and joy to the homeless, the aged, the children, the infirmed. How great would it be for kids to be pulling smiley faces out of their pockets, instead of drugs or guns? Think about it.
I am willing to take the “Detroit Challenge”, are you? To learn more about LAUGH DETROIT! please email me, Sue Ansari, at
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