Catharsis is the purification of emotions through art or any extreme change in emotion that results in renewal and restoration. Performing this type of emotional purification is essential for every empath. It helps with getting rid of any pent-up negative emotions in oneself. Beneficial forms of daily catharsis ideal for empaths include exercise of any kind, screaming into a pillow, crying, laughing, or self-expression through art of any form.

I’ve decided to try this emotional purification via laughter. Before learning about catharsis, I do know laughing through life is the best way to get through it. Even after some painful moments, I can look back and laugh at most of them. My kids are hilarious and they say and do the craziest and silliest things. So I would like to share my silly mom stories on a regular.

This Sunday morning, my daughter and I go out for breakfast at one our favorite spots. In her typical terrible 2 fashion she cuts up as soon as we get there. A course our waitress and all the patrons think she’s adorable while I’m secretly thinking in my head behind my huge grin and my nod of thank you is “this girl is a holy terror and you have no idea!” I’m sitting at our booth trying to enjoy my omelet while she feels the need to climb under the table to play with food on the floor, stand on the seat and stare through the opening and point at the people siting in the next booth, take off her shoes and throw them in the middle of the aisle so she can have an excuse to get up, dance and put on her one girl show. Let’s just say I’m about to lose my mind with the constant “mommy, mommy, mommy” while I’m trying to eat, so eventually she wears me down to giving in and I stop trying to get her to eat her food and I give her my phone so she can watch her favorite videos on YouTube.

After I hand her my phone, she calmly settles into the her seat, props her feet up and scrolls through the videos till she finds the one she wants to watch. I feel defeated but at least I can start eating again but now in peace. I look over at her and she looks up at me and puckers up her lips for me to kiss her so I lean in and giver her a kiss. My heart melts and my frustrations towards her fade and I continue to stare at her while she goes back to watching her videos. I guess she felt me still staring at her because then she looks up at me and does something that completely catches me off guard. This girl winks at me! I freeze, then we both bust out laughing.