Have you heard the story of the two monks and the heavy load? It is a Zen tale passed down for centuries in Buddhist teachings.

One day two traveling monks reached a town and saw a young woman waiting to step out of her sedan chair. There were deep, muddy puddles and she couldn’t step across without getting mud on her silk robes. She impatiently scolded her attendants, who were burdened with heavy packages.

The younger monk walked by the young woman without speaking. But the older monk stopped and picked her up on his back, carrying her across the mud. Not only did she not thank the monk, she shoved him out of her way when he put her down and scurried by him haughtily.

As the two monks continued on their way, the younger monk was brooding. After a long time, he finally spoke out. “That woman was so rude but you picked her up and carried her! She didn’t even thank you.”

“I set the woman down hours ago,” the older monk responded. “Why are you still carrying her?”

What are you holding on to today that is burdening you?

You might be playing a conversation or a past situation that upset you over and over in your mind. Ask yourself, is it happening now? When it happens again, how do I want to respond differently?

Perhaps you had a challenging parenting moment and are carrying guilt. Observe your child with curiosity; is she still upset about it? If so, acknowledge what happened so you both can move on. If she has already moved past it, let it go!

Remember that letting go is a gift to yourself. You will feel better and will be healthier and more present when you do.

Does your young child enjoy making up elaborate tales about what did (or did not) happen? Do you ever find your toddler “reading” a book to himself, remembering words or making up his own? Do your kids want to hear the same family stories over and over and over?

Do you ever feel concerned that they are “living in a dreamland” or not learning to tell the “truth”?

The good news is: They are normal! Storytelling is a natural part of our human experience. Young children learn from connecting with us through storytelling, both from reading and verbally. And they don’t always know how to distinguish a “true” story from one that is “made up.”

When your children tell you stories, listen for the truth in their words, even when some of the story is not “true.” They are sharing with you their desires, experiences and interpretations. There is so much to learn from the way they playfully interact with the world!

As early human beings, it was our verbal abilities and storytelling (creating of culture) that distinguished us from other species. We told stories to create a sense of belonging, to define meaning and to preserve our shared values.

I recently read a lovely essay written by a mother who began reading to her daughter as a newborn. She was delighted to discover that this ritual of reading and re-reading stories gives her daughter the confidence to tell her own stories. "Her six-year-old voice transforms into a seasoned storyteller, intoning mystery, suspense, humor, even love, as she reads aloud," Leslie Constans wrote.

Who are the little storytellers in your home? Tell us about what you are doing to support them in learning this important skill.

Did you know that the mere act of smiling can make you feel happier? Research has shown that the muscles in our face, when smiling, send a message to our brain that changes our mood, instantly!

Laughter truly is medicine! Laughter Therapy is used to help people alleviate stress and increase their sense of well-being. Some people have even formed laughter clubs. But as parents, we have a built in laughter club: Our kids!

Children love a good belly laugh, a silly joke and a playful romp. They can laugh easily if given the chance!

In our household, we have been turning to silly laughter when things get stressful or frustrating. It can be difficult at first to start the laugh-out, but once we get going, it is contagious. It releases the same amount of tension as screaming and creates a whole lot more connection than losing our tempers.

Our neighbors might think we have gone bonkers when we are hysterically laughing and hooting, but we are willing to risk it.

So what else can laughter do for you?

• Releases endorphins, raises serotonin levels and lowers stress hormones


• Lowers your blood pressure and heart rate


• Boosts your immune system


• Helps you maintain a healthy weight


• Increases a positive attitude to allow for more creative, proactive thinking


• Helps shift the moods of people around you, increasing connection

Leave a comment with your favorite joke (clean, please!) so we can all have a laugh!