Best-laid plans and all that.

At least we now have a plan, and this is what it looks like at present. At least these are the topics to be discussed.

The proposed 10-week project curriculum includes:

• Week One | Coping with Stress/ Personal Humor Style
• Week Two | The Humor/Mental Health Connection
• Week Three | Keeping a Humor Journal
• Week Four | Destructive Humor
• Week Five | Constructive Humor
• Week Six | The Best Medicine: Stress and Laughter Yoga
• Week Seven | “You’ll laugh when you hear this!” Therapy via Active Listening
• Week Eight | “Funniest thing I ever saw!” Therapy via Active Viewing
• Week Nine | “Laugh to keep from crying:” Applying Constructive Humor
• Week Ten | Staying on the CONstructive Side

Today I submitted a 17-page LSTA application with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) requesting funds for a two-year project called “‘A tranquilizer without side effects’: Humor-As-Therapy in the Correctional Environment.” At present, the MBLC has yet to determine which idea gets funded, and for how much.

If this flies, the MCI-Norfolk Lending Library will host the program, with Yours Truly as Project facilitator. The treatment model employs a variety of service delivery modes, including: active listening, active viewing, journaling, light physical exercise, PowerPoint lectures, class discussions, and required readings.