smile a small word that changed my life I am amazed how underrated smile is I
I am amazed how underrated smile is I
I am amazed how underrated smile is I was obsessed with smiling since
was obsessed with smiling since
was obsessed with smiling since childhood
childhood
childhood and I used to wonder why don’t people
and I used to wonder why don’t people
and I used to wonder why don’t people smile much I love smiling and seeing
smile much I love smiling and seeing
smile much I love smiling and seeing people smile little did I know then that
people smile little did I know then that
people smile little did I know then that smiling has healing properties
smiling has healing properties
smiling has healing properties and there is a healing therapy called
and there is a healing therapy called
and there is a healing therapy called miracle clowning I came across this term
miracle clowning I came across this term
miracle clowning I came across this term when in January 2016 when I met a girl
when in January 2016 when I met a girl
when in January 2016 when I met a girl who clowns at a hospital in Baroda I was
who clowns at a hospital in Baroda I was
who clowns at a hospital in Baroda I was intrigued and the some who stayed with
intrigued and the some who stayed with
intrigued and the some who stayed with me till my return to Delhi I started
me till my return to Delhi I started
me till my return to Delhi I started looking for people who were clowning in
looking for people who were clowning in
looking for people who were clowning in Delhi I read all about it I was
Delhi I read all about it I was
Delhi I read all about it I was fascinated and wanted to clown myself I
fascinated and wanted to clown myself I
fascinated and wanted to clown myself I wanted to feel how does it become how
wanted to feel how does it become how
wanted to feel how does it become how does it feel to become a clown I
does it feel to become a clown I
does it feel to become a clown I couldn’t find anyone for a long time
couldn’t find anyone for a long time
couldn’t find anyone for a long time during this time I was in constant touch
during this time I was in constant touch
during this time I was in constant touch with the clown that I had met in him the
with the clown that I had met in him the
with the clown that I had met in him the bug I kept telling her how interested I
bug I kept telling her how interested I
bug I kept telling her how interested I am and kept asking her questions
am and kept asking her questions
am and kept asking her questions one day she sensed my passion and said
one day she sensed my passion and said
one day she sensed my passion and said if you’re so willing to do this why
if you’re so willing to do this why
if you’re so willing to do this why don’t you start this in Delhi I was
don’t you start this in Delhi I was
don’t you start this in Delhi I was shocked I was like but suddenly a
shocked I was like but suddenly a
shocked I was like but suddenly a zillion thoughts went into my mind and I
zillion thoughts went into my mind and I
zillion thoughts went into my mind and I was like really now I will be able to do
was like really now I will be able to do
was like really now I will be able to do it
it
it I have never done anything like this I
I have never done anything like this I
I have never done anything like this I have no previous experience in theater
have no previous experience in theater
have no previous experience in theater and I am NOT that social I have never
and I am NOT that social I have never
and I am NOT that social I have never been that social and I am somewhat shy
been that social and I am somewhat shy
been that social and I am somewhat shy to I have always been an introvert I I
to I have always been an introvert I I
to I have always been an introvert I I said no it’s not my cup of tea I won’t
said no it’s not my cup of tea I won’t
said no it’s not my cup of tea I won’t be able to do it
be able to do it
be able to do it I won’t how can I take an initiative
I won’t how can I take an initiative
I won’t how can I take an initiative that too in the capital city of India
that too in the capital city of India
that too in the capital city of India however amidst the noise of all these
however amidst the noise of all these
however amidst the noise of all these thoughts there was a whisper
thoughts there was a whisper
thoughts there was a whisper overpowering at all why not I told
overpowering at all why not I told
overpowering at all why not I told myself I was soaked in all this while
myself I was soaked in all this while
myself I was soaked in all this while then why this reluctance to grab this
then why this reluctance to grab this
then why this reluctance to grab this opportunity that is right there in front
opportunity that is right there in front
opportunity that is right there in front of me
of me
of me It was as if life was throwing the
It was as if life was throwing the
It was as if life was throwing the challenge at me and I said to myself
challenge at me and I said to myself
challenge at me and I said to myself let’s do it I started working on getting
let’s do it I started working on getting
let’s do it I started working on getting the permission from the Health Ministry
the permission from the Health Ministry
the permission from the Health Ministry of Delhi and started looking for
of Delhi and started looking for
of Delhi and started looking for volunteers online still I 2016 clowning
volunteers online still I 2016 clowning
volunteers online still I 2016 clowning in Delhi started with six volunteers who
in Delhi started with six volunteers who
in Delhi started with six volunteers who don’t clown hats painted their faces and
don’t clown hats painted their faces and
don’t clown hats painted their faces and put on a clown nose with no previous
put on a clown nose with no previous
put on a clown nose with no previous experience in clowning but with a zeal
experience in clowning but with a zeal
experience in clowning but with a zeal that was unmatched we performed using
that was unmatched we performed using
that was unmatched we performed using balloons in the OPD we smiled and
balloons in the OPD we smiled and
balloons in the OPD we smiled and laughed we sang and danced amused faces
laughed we sang and danced amused faces
laughed we sang and danced amused faces welcomed us when we entered the
welcomed us when we entered the
welcomed us when we entered the impatient words and the small fun
impatient words and the small fun
impatient words and the small fun activities with the children in the
activities with the children in the
activities with the children in the impatient words it was beautiful we
impatient words it was beautiful we
impatient words it was beautiful we laughed for hours and hours and we kept
laughed for hours and hours and we kept
laughed for hours and hours and we kept playing around with every children that
playing around with every children that
playing around with every children that we met on a regular basis we go to OPD
we met on a regular basis we go to OPD
we met on a regular basis we go to OPD inpatient Watts emergency care and
inpatient Watts emergency care and
inpatient Watts emergency care and preoperative care we also cater to
preoperative care we also cater to
preoperative care we also cater to geriatric for care we go to old-age
geriatric for care we go to old-age
geriatric for care we go to old-age homes to spend time with the elderly and
homes to spend time with the elderly and
homes to spend time with the elderly and to share some light moments with them an
to share some light moments with them an
to share some light moments with them an amalgamation of a clown and integrating
amalgamation of a clown and integrating
amalgamation of a clown and integrating techniques of counseling gave birth to
techniques of counseling gave birth to
techniques of counseling gave birth to clownselor
clownselor
clownselor the focus of the intervention is to
the focus of the intervention is to
the focus of the intervention is to distress ailing patients and to reduce
distress ailing patients and to reduce
distress ailing patients and to reduce the pain and spread more joy we all know
the pain and spread more joy we all know
the pain and spread more joy we all know hospitals are the more most terrifying
hospitals are the more most terrifying
hospitals are the more most terrifying spaces that there are I still have to
spaces that there are I still have to
spaces that there are I still have to plan to three months to actually visit a
plan to three months to actually visit a
plan to three months to actually visit a doctor I remember the first time when we
doctor I remember the first time when we
doctor I remember the first time when we finished Clowney
finished Clowney
finished Clowney I couldn’t stop smiling for days and I
I couldn’t stop smiling for days and I
I couldn’t stop smiling for days and I said this is what I call being smiling
said this is what I call being smiling
said this is what I call being smiling hungover I was smile hungover for a week
hungover I was smile hungover for a week
hungover I was smile hungover for a week and then I realized after clowning we
and then I realized after clowning we
and then I realized after clowning we have been clowning for more than a year
have been clowning for more than a year
have been clowning for more than a year now and I realized that each clowning
now and I realized that each clowning
now and I realized that each clowning experience is so different from the
experience is so different from the
experience is so different from the other though we are we are making
other though we are we are making
other though we are we are making children laugh but still it is always
children laugh but still it is always
children laugh but still it is always different from the previous one and it
different from the previous one and it
different from the previous one and it is a beautiful experience that can only
is a beautiful experience that can only
is a beautiful experience that can only be felt it is a blessing and we are so
be felt it is a blessing and we are so
be felt it is a blessing and we are so thankful for everything that we have in
thankful for everything that we have in
thankful for everything that we have in life so clown sellers are doing their
life so clown sellers are doing their
life so clown sellers are doing their rounds of the hospital for more than a
rounds of the hospital for more than a
rounds of the hospital for more than a year and now and each clowning
year and now and each clowning
year and now and each clowning experience like I said is different from
experience like I said is different from
experience like I said is different from the other so the they vivid ly remember
the other so the they vivid ly remember
the other so the they vivid ly remember there there was once a girl in an
there there was once a girl in an
there there was once a girl in an isolation ward who was lying in a bed
isolation ward who was lying in a bed
isolation ward who was lying in a bed almost lifeless since it was an
almost lifeless since it was an
almost lifeless since it was an isolation ward we could not enter I
isolation ward we could not enter I
isolation ward we could not enter I stood outside trying to cheer her up
stood outside trying to cheer her up
stood outside trying to cheer her up after several minutes of juggling the
after several minutes of juggling the
after several minutes of juggling the balloon and making faces I am best at
balloon and making faces I am best at
balloon and making faces I am best at doing that she finally smiled yes
doing that she finally smiled yes
doing that she finally smiled yes she smiled I saw a body move and react
she smiled I saw a body move and react
she smiled I saw a body move and react and she tried to get up and she smiled
and she tried to get up and she smiled
and she tried to get up and she smiled again how well mother later shared that
again how well mother later shared that
again how well mother later shared that she had been lying motionless for eight
she had been lying motionless for eight
she had been lying motionless for eight days not reacting to anything it is
days not reacting to anything it is
days not reacting to anything it is heartwarming when parents of the
heartwarming when parents of the
heartwarming when parents of the children drop a tear of happiness when
children drop a tear of happiness when
children drop a tear of happiness when they see their children react after days
they see their children react after days
they see their children react after days of flying motionless in that hospital
of flying motionless in that hospital
of flying motionless in that hospital setting there are
setting there are
setting there are when children are not eating or drinking
when children are not eating or drinking
when children are not eating or drinking anything when and when they engage with
anything when and when they engage with
anything when and when they engage with us they start eating and drinking which
us they start eating and drinking which
us they start eating and drinking which is the only way to their recovery there
is the only way to their recovery there
is the only way to their recovery there are also times when a child is not
are also times when a child is not
are also times when a child is not smiling or reacting to anything that is
smiling or reacting to anything that is
smiling or reacting to anything that is happening around them and doctors say
happening around them and doctors say
happening around them and doctors say that because they are not reacting they
that because they are not reacting they
that because they are not reacting they are not able to recover after playing
are not able to recover after playing
are not able to recover after playing with us and engaging with us the child
with us and engaging with us the child
with us and engaging with us the child at times smiles not just smiles but sits
at times smiles not just smiles but sits
at times smiles not just smiles but sits on their own while they were not even
on their own while they were not even
on their own while they were not even able to move their hands before we
able to move their hands before we
able to move their hands before we entered our almost every week we get to
entered our almost every week we get to
entered our almost every week we get to hear from patient or parents that our
hear from patient or parents that our
hear from patient or parents that our child has been so sad since the day he
child has been so sad since the day he
child has been so sad since the day he has been admitted in the hospital but
has been admitted in the hospital but
has been admitted in the hospital but today he is smiling and has started
today he is smiling and has started
today he is smiling and has started playing with other children to hospital
playing with other children to hospital
playing with other children to hospital clowning is is extremely difficult
clowning is is extremely difficult
clowning is is extremely difficult because we are working in a very
because we are working in a very
because we are working in a very vulnerable space and we have to be
vulnerable space and we have to be
vulnerable space and we have to be extremely sensitive ourselves we have
extremely sensitive ourselves we have
extremely sensitive ourselves we have seen children dying in front of our own
seen children dying in front of our own
seen children dying in front of our own eyes it’s not easy it’s not and you
eyes it’s not easy it’s not and you
eyes it’s not easy it’s not and you don’t know how to react at times and
don’t know how to react at times and
don’t know how to react at times and Hospital clowning is actually about
Hospital clowning is actually about
Hospital clowning is actually about reaching out to people who are in need
reaching out to people who are in need
reaching out to people who are in need of love and care and loving them
of love and care and loving them
of love and care and loving them unconditionally it’s like saying hey
unconditionally it’s like saying hey
unconditionally it’s like saying hey you’re not alone in this let’s fight it
you’re not alone in this let’s fight it
you’re not alone in this let’s fight it together it’s about celebrating life
together it’s about celebrating life
together it’s about celebrating life itself I remember there was once a girl
itself I remember there was once a girl
itself I remember there was once a girl who who was feeling very sick and I
who who was feeling very sick and I
who who was feeling very sick and I walked in she was calling for her mother
walked in she was calling for her mother
walked in she was calling for her mother she couldn’t see how anywhere
she couldn’t see how anywhere
she couldn’t see how anywhere she saw me and hugged me tight we stayed
she saw me and hugged me tight we stayed
she saw me and hugged me tight we stayed like that for a few moments and no words
like that for a few moments and no words
like that for a few moments and no words exchanged nothing at all
exchanged nothing at all
exchanged nothing at all but she felt relieved and her stress
but she felt relieved and her stress
but she felt relieved and her stress levels went down Hospital clowning is
levels went down Hospital clowning is
levels went down Hospital clowning is not easy because seeing children suffer
not easy because seeing children suffer
not easy because seeing children suffer is terrible but when a child holds her
is terrible but when a child holds her
is terrible but when a child holds her hand and asks us to be just be there
hand and asks us to be just be there
hand and asks us to be just be there because they feel better is rewarding
because they feel better is rewarding
because they feel better is rewarding it’s like we all need somebody
it’s like we all need somebody
it’s like we all need somebody to tell us hey if they’re ill be fine
to tell us hey if they’re ill be fine
to tell us hey if they’re ill be fine don’t worry all will be fine all is well
don’t worry all will be fine all is well
don’t worry all will be fine all is well Hospital clowning is not just about
Hospital clowning is not just about
Hospital clowning is not just about patients though the focus of the entire
patients though the focus of the entire
patients though the focus of the entire setup the in the hospital is generally
setup the in the hospital is generally
setup the in the hospital is generally on the patient’s only care providers
on the patient’s only care providers
on the patient’s only care providers such as parents no hospital staff and
such as parents no hospital staff and
such as parents no hospital staff and doctors are under tremendous stress and
doctors are under tremendous stress and
doctors are under tremendous stress and pain too we do different activities with
pain too we do different activities with
pain too we do different activities with the care providers as well which helps
the care providers as well which helps
the care providers as well which helps them in dealing with the stressful
them in dealing with the stressful
them in dealing with the stressful situations better with new positivity
situations better with new positivity
situations better with new positivity and enthusiasm that helps them in
and enthusiasm that helps them in
and enthusiasm that helps them in difficult times every time we do an act
difficult times every time we do an act
difficult times every time we do an act with the nursing staff sister Geeta did
with the nursing staff sister Geeta did
with the nursing staff sister Geeta did hurt one of the head nursing staff comes
hurt one of the head nursing staff comes
hurt one of the head nursing staff comes and gives us a bear hug saying that this
and gives us a bear hug saying that this
and gives us a bear hug saying that this two minute act gives them enough
two minute act gives them enough
two minute act gives them enough positivity to keep going and to deal
positivity to keep going and to deal
positivity to keep going and to deal with working with Sick Children Hospital
with working with Sick Children Hospital
with working with Sick Children Hospital clowning or clown siller’s is not just
clowning or clown siller’s is not just
clowning or clown siller’s is not just about clowning and the relief and joy it
about clowning and the relief and joy it
about clowning and the relief and joy it brings to people every volunteer that
brings to people every volunteer that
brings to people every volunteer that comes dresses up as a clown and comes
comes dresses up as a clown and comes
comes dresses up as a clown and comes week after week for clowning leaving
week after week for clowning leaving
week after week for clowning leaving their weekend activities on at times
their weekend activities on at times
their weekend activities on at times leaving their weekend activities and at
leaving their weekend activities and at
leaving their weekend activities and at times taking leave from the work is
times taking leave from the work is
times taking leave from the work is there because they feel passion towards
there because they feel passion towards
there because they feel passion towards it there is some kind of a dedication
it there is some kind of a dedication
it there is some kind of a dedication and they feel for the cause the passion
and they feel for the cause the passion
and they feel for the cause the passion each volunteer brings to the hospital
each volunteer brings to the hospital
each volunteer brings to the hospital gives us hope in humanity that all not
gives us hope in humanity that all not
gives us hope in humanity that all not all is lost yet and there is still some
all is lost yet and there is still some
all is lost yet and there is still some humanity and not all is lost in the
humanity and not all is lost in the
humanity and not all is lost in the material culture that this society is
material culture that this society is
material culture that this society is hopelessly embedded in as for me I was
hopelessly embedded in as for me I was
hopelessly embedded in as for me I was living in ordinary life clownselor has
living in ordinary life clownselor has
living in ordinary life clownselor has made it extraordinary and filled my life
made it extraordinary and filled my life
made it extraordinary and filled my life with contentment and fulfillment that
with contentment and fulfillment that
with contentment and fulfillment that can not be expressed in two words the
can not be expressed in two words the
can not be expressed in two words the biggest lesson that
biggest lesson that
biggest lesson that has taught me is nothing absolutely
has taught me is nothing absolutely
has taught me is nothing absolutely nothing is meaningless and when you’re
nothing is meaningless and when you’re
nothing is meaningless and when you’re one with yourself
one with yourself
one with yourself there is no looking back my vision is to
there is no looking back my vision is to
there is no looking back my vision is to see clownin reach the remote parts of
see clownin reach the remote parts of
see clownin reach the remote parts of the country spread more and more smiles
the country spread more and more smiles
the country spread more and more smiles and take away as much pain as possible I
and take away as much pain as possible I
and take away as much pain as possible I want to see doses of laughter being
want to see doses of laughter being
want to see doses of laughter being given same importance as medicines in
given same importance as medicines in
given same importance as medicines in all the hospitals and care centers I
all the hospitals and care centers I
all the hospitals and care centers I want to see medical clownin become the
want to see medical clownin become the
want to see medical clownin become the prescription that the world needs today
prescription that the world needs today
prescription that the world needs today of love and compassion on this note
of love and compassion on this note
of love and compassion on this note may I please request all of you to stand
may I please request all of you to stand
may I please request all of you to stand up now can you all please smile
up now can you all please smile
up now can you all please smile beautiful smile turn to the person
beautiful smile turn to the person
beautiful smile turn to the person standing next to you you have to turn
standing next to you you have to turn
standing next to you you have to turn yeah you have to look for a partner and
yeah you have to look for a partner and
yeah you have to look for a partner and give them a nice warm hug hug hug and
give them a nice warm hug hug hug and
give them a nice warm hug hug hug and keeping that smile intact please be
keeping that smile intact please be
keeping that smile intact please be seated
”
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