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Newspaper or Internet cartoons might save your life or build your immune system at least, that is the thinking of many progressive doctors and psychologists.

Dr. Bernie Siegel is but one, but there are so many others whose recommendation is to surround oneself with humor, whether it be cartoons, videos, magazines, or whatever else is available at the moment. Cartoons are usually readily available, especially on the Internet or newspapers. A funny cartoon can release endorphins immediately; the type of immune system-friendly ones that can, allegedly not only make you live longer, but healthier. In my own life, common sense tells me that if I was unable to utilize humor, life would be a bit drab. So would my health. I have recovered from some severe illnesses, a few that doctors said “I might not make it”, I think, only because of my sense of humor. I am certain their own potions helped as well, but without laughter and hope, faith can fade and fade fast.

Londons Times Cartoons was launched in 1997 after my mom died. I did not have a lot to start with, as far as financing, but had a lot of creative ideas, and was fortunate enough to build an illustrative and management team who knew what they were doing. When everything came together, from nothing, and it took a life of its own, and I was humbled and pleasantly surprised as were my colleagues.

It made me realize, maybe for the first time, at age 43, that if the common man or woman puts their mind to something, they can do it, regardless of social status, education, gender or race. It simply takes focus, a plan, and the guts to work the plan. When I say guts, I don’t mean at all that one is a hero for trying it. It is only that I have found in my lifetime, that dreams are “a dime a dozen”. Everyone has a book in them, a huge building, a creative venture, or some other dream. More often than not, it stays with them, in their heads, until the very end. To me, that is a tragedy.

Humans are made to achieve. It is in all of us waiting to come out, and often it takes the help of others. I will give you an example. Over the years, I had written literally thousands of cartoons. Though I could draw fairly well, not well enough to meet the standards of what I wanted in a cartoon. Thanks to the Internet, I found a way to recruit some of the best illustrators of cartoons on the Internet. They were willing to take on this project with me, still in its seed/dream stage, based on the quality of the concepts which would later become my comic collection.

By March of 1998, I had possibly 100 cartoons up on a free sub-domain. I could not even afford my own domain at the time. Pop-up ads ruled the site and visitors usually got angry and left as soon as they arrived. But I persisted. And I use that word because of how important it is. Persistence is probably as important, if not more important, than any other element of a creative project. Obstacles came and went. I developed a “damn the torpedos” philosophy, and kept my eyes on the prize. The number of naysayers far outweighed the supporters. It mattered not. I kept full steam ahead.

Because of my team’s persistence, within ten years, we built Londons Times Cartoons which attracts millions of annual visitors, and built 11 e-stores. We now have over 8000 color cartoons and almost 100,000 licensed image products that sell well. Our main website, Londons Times Cartoon has an eight million person following from Egypt to Canada.

I look back in amazement. I cannot believe it all happened in such a short time-span as a decade. But it did. And it did while I was disabled. I had been employed since age 12 and became disabled in my early forties due to depression and heart disease. During that time I also went back to school and finished three years in business. I am on break now, taking care of other health issues, and then plan to return to finish and work on my masters.

Like I said, think it, plan it, do it, and it is yours. It’s the American dream and it still exists.

Tags: Humor