laughter heals

Recently, I have been doing some public speaking to ACTUAL people! Not just the mirror or making my kids sit on the couch and listen to me in return for Tinkerbell fruit snacks.

My message was “Laughter is Healing.” A little laughing…a little nurse talk. You get how I came up with that, right?

So one of the speaking engagements I spoke to was a fabulous group of people, who struggle with a chronic debilitating disease; and I wanted to help them find ways to find laughter and a positive outlook in their every day life.

I shared how funny movies can be a great source of joy when you are strapped to a hospital IV pole and forced to eat horrendously bland food with other tips, but I’m not giving you all the details here.

As promised to my new friends, here are the lists of hilarious movies. Now the long list is “classics” for the movie connoisseur and the first list is for those (like myself) who prefers a brainless (sometimes crude) movie for a rocking belly laugh!

Bravo! Top List of Funniest movies

1. Animal House (1978)
2.Caddyshack (1980)
3.Shrek (2001)
4.There’s Something About Mary (1998)
5.South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999)
6.Airplane! (1980)
7.Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
8.The Wedding Singer (1998)
9.Blazing Saddles (1974)
10.Arthur (1981)

I’ve been nominated for Circle of Mom’s Top Funny Mom’s in the Bloomin’ World – or something more subtle than that- Could you please vote for this poor country girl? I’m 90-something and I’m starting to get a complex! Click on this icon and then click on the golden thumb sticking up under Nurse Mommy Laughs photo. Sure would appreciate!

“You rock like a Spinal Tap amp that goes up to an 11!!” Nurse Mommy

MOVIE (American Film Institute)
1 SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
2 TOOTSIE (1982)
3 DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB (1964)
4 ANNIE HALL (1977)
5 DUCK SOUP (1933)
6 BLAZING SADDLES (1974)
7 M*A*S*H (1970)
8 IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
9 THE GRADUATE (1967)
10 AIRPLANE! (1980)
11 THE PRODUCERS (1968)
12 A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (1935)
13 YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974)
14 BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
15 THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
16 SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952)
17 THE ODD COUPLE (1968)
18 THE GENERAL (1927)
19 HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940)
20 THE APARTMENT (1960)
21 A FISH CALLED WANDA (1988)
22 ADAM’S RIB (1949)
23 WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (1989)
24 BORN YESTERDAY (1950)
25 THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
26 BEING THERE (1979)
27 THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY (1998)
28 GHOSTBUSTERS (1984)
29 THIS IS SPINAL TAP (1984)
30 ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (1944)
31 RAISING ARIZONA (1987)
32 THE THIN MAN (1934)
33 MODERN TIMES(1936)
34 GROUNDHOG DAY (1993)
35 HARVEY (1950)
36 NATIONAL LAMPOON’S ANIMAL HOUSE (1978)
37 THE GREAT DICTATOR -1940
38 CITY LIGHTS -1931
39 SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS -1941
40 IT’S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD -1963
41 MOONSTRUCK -1987
42 BIG -1988
43 AMERICAN GRAFFITI -1973
44 MY MAN GODFREY -1936
45 HAROLD AND MAUDE -1972
46 MANHATTAN -1979
47 SHAMPOO -1975
48 A SHOT IN THE DARK -1964
49 TO BE OR NOT TO BE -1942
50 CAT BALLOU -1965
51 THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH -1955
52 NINOTCHKA – 1939
53 ARTHUR -1981
54 THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN’S CREEK -1944
55 THE LADY EVE -1941
56 ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN -1948
57 DINER -1982
58 IT’S A GIFT -1934
59 A DAY AT THE RACES -1937
60 TOPPER -1937
61 WHAT’S UP, DOC? -1972
62 SHERLOCK, JR. -1924
63 BEVERLY HILLS COP -1984
64 BROADCAST NEWS -1987
65 HORSE FEATHERS -1932
66 TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN -1969
67 MRS. DOUBTFIRE -1993
68 THE AWFUL TRUTH -1937
69 BANANAS -1971
70 MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN -1936
71 CADDYSHACK -1980
72 MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE -1948
73 MONKEY BUSINESS -1931
74 9 TO 5 -1980
75 SHE DONE HIM WRONG -1933
76 VICTOR/VICTORIA -1982
77 THE PALM BEACH STORY -1942
78 ROAD TO MOROCCO -1942
79 THE FRESHMAN -1925
80 SLEEPER -1973
81 THE NAVIGATOR -1924
82 PRIVATE BENJAMIN -1980
83 FATHER OF THE BRIDE -1950
84 LOST IN AMERICA -1985
85 DINNER AT EIGHT -1933
86 CITY SLICKERS -1991
87 FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH -1982
88 BEETLEJUICE – 1988
89 THE JERK -1979
90 WOMAN OF THE YEAR -1942
91 THE HEARTBREAK KID -1972
92 BALL OF FIRE -1941
93 FARGO -1996
94 AUNTIE MAME -1958
95 SILVER STREAK -1976
96 SONS OF THE DESERT -1933
97 BULL DURHAM -1988
98 THE COURT JESTER -1956
99 THE NUTTY PROFESSOR -1963
100 GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM -1987

previously published by The Kansas City Star

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Stacey Hatton Commentary

Every year during the holiday season, a surge of nausea and a tight ball creeps from my lower abdomen and parks itself somewhere between my upper chest and throat.

Sometimes it rears its sappy head when I hear an old song that reminds me of relatives who have passed away or my children ask a question about giving a toy to orphans. Or some Hallmark Cards or silly coffee TV commercial will turn me into a blubbering fool. Why is it that I am the Queen of Laughter for the remaining 11 months, and then, BAM! — Black Friday is done and I’m a mess?

I’m sure genetics has a lot to do with it, but I’ve wanted all of mankind to experience a special holiday season for as long as I can remember. Chuck Dickens nailed it on the head: “God bless us every one!” Love that guy.

As a pediatric nurse, there is a special section of my heart carved out for every Tiny Tim. When kids are sick I want to give everything to help them and their families feel better physically, mentally and spiritually. When I first became a nurse, the first job I received was a pediatric cancer nurse.

I know it sounds awful, but it was truly a gift! I was so excited to get a job working with children that I didn’t really process what I was going to experience. What these kids endured was horrific, and furthermore, I had to be part of the process of implementing their pain. Surgery was a blessing for them. Chemotherapy was treasured. It was their medicine of hope — and I had to remind myself of that every night on my drive alone back to my home, while tears poured down my face.

After I learned the medical side of my job, I decided I had to make drastic changes in order to mentally survive. Laughter and fun needed to enter the workplace for sheer survival. I started with the staff. We would go out after work to support each other and focus on the love and light in our jobs. This released tension and made it easier to return to work to provide positive care to our beloved patients.

Some of the seasoned nurses had already been bonding with patients in a humorous manner. There were tickle fights with stuffed animals and bedside water fights — staff versus parents using huge medicine syringes. The children, families and staff started to release some of the pain, anxiety and nausea — and all were laughing together. Miraculous medicine!

So I added my own brand of fun: wacky puppet shows, costume parades, bedside song and tap dance productions. Not only did the kids request more songs and fewer nausea and pain meds, but I wasn’t crying as much on my rides home — a big improvement for all.

Even though I am no longer working with these beautiful children, it’s at this time of year when I think of them most, remembering the year I worked Christmas morning and watched them open their gifts Santa had hand-delivered to the floor. The joy on their faces was unmatched at any other Christmas I have witnessed since — true appreciation of the spirit of giving! Honestly, it was my favorite Christmas, too.

With the economy the way it has been lately, this holiday season isn’t going to be joyous for many persons around Kansas City. Even in Johnson County, there are numerous families going without and not able to provide food and gifts for loved ones. I hope other families who have a surplus will share some of their gifts with those in need. Food, clothing, money, toys are all in great demand.

And for those of you who are struggling this season, many blessings to you, and try to focus on this: laughter is a wonderful gift, good health is another and spending quality time with your family is truly immeasurable. Some of those families in the hospital I took care of aren’t able to do that anymore. Priceless are those laughs together, and may you and yours have many to add to your memory bank!

Stacey Hatton is a pediatric registered nurse, writer and public speaker. Her humor blog can be found at http://nursemommylaughs.com.

Nurse Mommy Laughs…

'Cause Laughter is the Best Medicine

Tag Archives: laughter heals

Top Funniest Films Evah!! American Film Institute, Bravo!, and Nurse Mommy Laughs

The many gifts of the holiday season

previously published by The Kansas City Star