Noreen Braman

The hits came fast - Noreen Braman found herself reeling from a corporate downsizing, dealing with a economic recession of historic proportions, and facing her own self-doubt issues. Reinvention was in the cards, and soon her skills as a strategic communications professional, humorist and performer would send her in a new direction. Within one year, she became a certified Laughter Yoga Leader, had her mind blown at a conference called "Can Humor Save the World" and studied the Psychology of Laughter at Rutgers University. Shortly after, she added certification in Laughter Wellness, studied the Science of Happiness through UC Berkeley, joined the Association for Applied & Therapeutic Humor (AATH) and is currently a Chief Well-Being Officer candidate through the World Happiness Foundation. What started out as laughter for the health of it through her Smile Side of Life Laughter & Happiness Club presentations has become a joyful journey of laughter sessions, stress management, resilience boosting, and helping others find a mission and purpose like she did for herself. She continues to add to her knowledge base through continuing education and certifications, workshops, conferences and seminars. Noreen credits Dr. Paul McGhee's book "Humor as Survival Training for a Stressed-Out World" as well as Linda Richman's "I'd Rather Laugh: How to Be Happy Even if Life has Other Plans for You," for planting the seed of helping others understand the importance of humor and laughter to all humans. With the physical and emotional health benefits that come with humor, laughter and mindfulness, Noreen deals with her fibromyalgia and thyroid disease with humor, reminding us all that yesterday's problem can be today's funny story. Noreen is an instructor at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Rutgers University, and has also shared her well-being messages both nationally and internationally.