I watched the programming for Comic Relief last week, and laughed and cried my way through the evening. It is a really powerful combination of emotions. We laugh and it opens us up, mentally and emotionally. We watch the stories of those that Comic Relief helps, who are all suffering some form of deprivation, both in the UK and Africa, and our open hearts feel for them and recognise the injustice of a world where children die of preventable diseases, where people are lonely and distressed.

It reminds us forcefully of our own good fortune, if we have a roof over our heads, warmth, food, love – the basics of life – and gives us a wider perspective on the problems we do have: for most of us they are not in the world-shattering category. It also illustrates the courage and perseverance of human beings in the face of adversity, and the kindness and compassion that we are naturally wired to give to others, when we move beyond our own little world. And above all, it reminds us that love and laughter are things we can all share, no matter who we are or what our circumstances are.

The Comic Relief event always feels like a dose of salts for regaining our perspective on life!

So what?

• Give some money if you haven’t already – or even if you have! http://www.comicrelief.com/
• Give thanks for the aspects of your life you normally take for granted: a home, food, people who love you, enough money to live, an education, a job
• Be kind – to anyone and everyone! You don’t know how much difference your smile or kind word may make to someone
• Use your own courage and perseverance to deal with the problems in your own life
• And laugh whenever you can and let your heart and mind open!