Laughter, Wind, and a Little Mary Poppins Magic

It’s October on the Cape, and the wind is wild today...the kind that makes you stop mid-step, take a deep breath, and feel alive again with the changes of the season.

As I was preparing for a few friends to come over tonight (they have no idea I’m surprising them with a laughter yoga class), I caught myself smiling at the sound of the wind outside. Something in it felt familiar. So, naturally, I turned on “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” from Mary Poppins. 

One song led to another, and before I knew it, I was dancing around my house with my headphones on deep into the next soundtrack, The Sound of Music, singing along like I was ten years old again. Such JOY!

It took me right back to my childhood. My dad loved music-from Arthur Fiedler, the Boston Pops, Fiddler on the Roof and good ole Lawrence Welk. There was music in our house, and with it, a feeling of connection and joy that words alone couldn’t carry.

Now, as the seasons shift, I feel that same pull to reconnect to the music, to movement, and to the people I love. I just finished my Yoga Teacher Certification, and it’s reminded me how powerful small rituals can be. Breath, laughter, and even a simple song can realign us when life gets noisy and the seasons change.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about what it means to start new routines without losing the progress I’ve made. Fall can trick us into losing sight again, getting busier with life, forgetting joy and laughter. But it’s possible to hold both: the new rhythm of the cold wind blowing in the tress and the steady calm underneath it with quiet evenings and the sun setting earlier.

Tonight, as I cue my first laughter yoga class for my friends, I’ll be remembering my dad — and hoping I’m passing that same love of music and presence down to my friends and family.

Because sometimes, wellness is about remembering what already fills you up: wind, song, laughter, and love. Peace.

p.s. The Laughter Yoga was a success-so much so that I didn't get a picture!