Nun's tales collected in book

Sister Anne Bryan Smollin, CSJ, loves to lecture people.

The director of the Albany Diocese's Counseling for Laity office travels the world talking about wellness and spirituality, particularly the value of laughter.

Some of her words are now collected in her third book, "Live, Laugh and be Blessed: Finding Humor and Holiness in Everyday Moments."

Story-teller

"I don't consider myself a writer," Sister Anne told The Evangelist. "These stories are, for the most part, the retelling of ones that I use in my lectures. They reflect real-life dilemmas and experiences that happen to everyone.

"So often, people attending my lectures have asked me for a written copy of some of the stories I use. I decided to put them together in the form of a book."

The 17 chapters relate such anecdotes as a day filled with one fiasco after another, and stories about Native Americans, school teachers and friends.

Laughter

Sister Anne also adds advice on the importance of maintaining a sense of humor to get through life's most challenging obstacles.

"Laughter is so important in our lives," she explained. "It's therapeutic and healthy. It allows us to maintain a sense of balance, especially when life throws us surprises. We can so easily be overwhelmed with sadness, our own failures, and disappointments, depression and stress.

"Laughter allows us to experience more deeply and live more fully the life that God intended us to live."

On the skids

The author hopes that her tales "are practical for people to read and apply to their own everyday life. Some are pretty funny, like the story of the day I walked out into my driveway and unintentionally became an Olympic luge candidate when I slipped on black ice and went flying.

"I had to get up and immediately go off to film a TV interview with torn pantyhose and a bruised ego. The day was a disaster, but I laughed all the way through it. In fact, laughter is what got me through it because, from that point, the day just got worse and worse."

Sister Anne said, "What I am most hoping is that these stories will touch people's hearts and stay with them to help them maintain a sense of balance in their lives."

(Sister Anne will be at The Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza in Guilderland on March 9, 7-9 p.m., to sign her book, which was published by Sorin Books/Ave Maria Press. Call 489-4761 for information on the book signing. Go to www.sorinbooks.com for information on her book. Sister Anne's previous books are "Tickle Your Soul" and "God Knows You're Stressed.")

(2/23/06) [[In-content Ad]]