Why?

In Chris Johnston's book The Improvisation Game: Discovering the secrets of Spontaneous Performance he starts by asking 'Why':

"Why are we improvising?  Why use improvisation other than tennis, carpet-weaving or opera?
Improvisation tends to be used primarily in pursuit of one of four aims:

• As RESEARCH into ourselves to increase self-knowledge, perhaps sharing the results of this research with others as performance
• For LEARNING better how to communicate with each other, manage emotions or improve life skills
• To understand, manage or reconcile CONFLICT.  This work is sometimes associated with programmes for social change.
• To create ENTERTAINMENT without necessarily any recourse to a higher purpose, unless you see laughing as a higher purpose. which you might."

Which is it for you?

For me, it's all four, and I add one more.

• To have some bloody FUN

Sure, it's implied in the other sentences in the list, but for me, laughing IS a higher purpose.  It's a huge part of who I am, and who I want to be.  
Laughter is so important to us as human beings. 
Laughter is the best medicine.
You can even do a course of Laughter Yoga. Yes, even here in Manchester.
We use laughter to defuse tension, to help ourselves cope, to just cheer ourselves up.
With laughter, we share.
We share important parts of ourselves.

The first time myself and my husband, at that point just a good friend, truly laughed with each other, I knew I wanted to marry him.  We'd known each other a long time, but never really let go and shared that much.
Laughter took us to that next level.

And yes, I met him doing improv.  Go figure.

Do one thing for me today, laugh, and get someone else to join you. x