Laughter for Meditation

This weekend, my cousin told me about a kind of yoga/meditation that essentially involves just laughing infectiously to ease stress. My coworker and I have used that many times over the past few months. While working for AmeriCorps – Access JobLink, I’ve discovered there are times when you just have to find something to laugh about.

One such moment happened yesterday at a community outreach center for the homeless. A guy was working on the computer and drinking a juice box that was provided by a different ministry within the center. The director of the center came out of her office and asked him not to eat or drink at the computer…normal, right? Here’s the funny part.

Less than 5 minutes later, another guy (who is in and out of the center, depending on if he’s in jail) pulls up to a computer, sets his stuff down, moves the laptop back about 3 inches, opens up his bag, brings out a half gallon of milk and cereal, and fixes himself a giant bowl of sugary cereal. My coworker turns to me with a look of amazement as he walks over to the guy (dreading the conversation) to ask him to not eat at the computer.

Gosh, I know that a year from now, I will still crack up as I think about that guy fixing himself a meal in the computer center.

GORP with Honey-Oatmeal Clusters
Cooking spray
1 cup rolled oats
2 T. vegetable oil
¼ cup wheat germ
1 T. honey
3 cups mixed dried fruit
1 T. ground cinnamon
2 cups mixed nuts
½ cup sunflower seeds
½ cup raisins
½ cup shredded coconut
1 cup peanut butter M&M’s

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Mist a baking sheet with cooking spray. Toss the oats with 2 tablespoons water, vegetable oil, wheat germ, and honey. Form small clusters of the mixture on the baking sheet and bake until crisp, about 15 minutes.

Add the mixed dried fruit to the baking sheet, sprinkle with the cinnamon and bake 3 to 5 more minutes. Let cool, then toss with the nuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, coconut and M&M’s. Store in an airtight container.