Saturday, October 24, 2009

The Joy Of Laughter

There is nothing more relaxing and refreshing than a good belly laugh. Laughter reduces stress, relaxes muscles, helps refresh the air in our lungs, lowers blood pressure, and releases nature's painkillers (endorphins). It has also been found that laughter sparks our creativity and rejuvenates our mind and soul.

Laughter is sometimes called our "internal jogging" because it helps strengthen our hearts. For people who are not able to get regular cardiac activity, laughing is wonderful exercise. It aids in circulation and delivers oxygen and other nutrients to the rest of the body. And, believe it or not, women receive more benefit from laughing than do men. I think that is one of the reasons women always seem to fall in love with men who can make them laugh.

Laughing is wonderful, but did you know it also helps your immune system? Yes it does. It increases the natural killer cells that attack viruses and even tumors. Laughing also wards off colds because it increases immunoglobulin in saliva, and has a cleansing effect.

Laughter is the universal language, and a great ice-breaker. Often groups of people will not share the same ideas, and that can create tension, especially over the long term. Most of us find ourselves in that situation from time to time. I work closely with a co-worker who never laughs. It is all business, all the time. There is no sense of humor, or sense of the ridiculous in this person, and unfortunately as a result, my co-worker suffers from high blood pressure. I am just the opposite, and I love to laugh. However, there are times when I feel as if I'm doing something subversive when I laugh. But never fear -- that doesn't stop me. We have a new young doctor who has the most wonderful, infectious giggle. Hearing him laugh makes me giggle too. His laugh is ... just what the doctor ordered.

No one has ever discovered the negative side effects to laughing -- it's free, and it's good for you. Find every opportunity you can, and laugh.

28 comments:

DUTA said...

There's nothig like a baby's laughter. Ive greatly enjoyed this video. Thanks for sharing.

TomCat said...

In that case, please tell more jokes. :-)

PhilipH said...

True Jo, every word of it.

I defy anybody not to laugh at the laughing policeman thingy at the fair or on the seafront. Totally infectious.

When I tell a joke I just have to laugh; often being the only one!

Jo said...

DUTA, Isn't that video a hoot? I laugh every time I see it.

TomCat, okay, here's a joke for you:

A husband had just finished reading a new book ntitled, "You Can Be THE Man of Your House."

He stormed to his wife in the kitchen and announced, "From now on, you need to know that I am the man of this house and my word is Law. You will prepare me a gourmet meal tonight, and when I'm done eating my meal, you will serve me a scrumptious dessert. After dinner, you are going to go upstairs with me and we will have the kind of sex that I want!

Afterwards, you are going to draw me a bath so I can relax. You will wash my back and towel me dry and bring me my robe. Then, you will massage my feet and hands. Then tomorrow, guess who's going to dress me and comb my hair?"

The wife replied, "The f*****n' funeral director would be my first guess."


Philip, yes, I often laugh at my own jokes, too, but sometimes that is the fun of it, don't you think? *heh*

Alissa Grosso said...

Jo, I love to laugh. Sometimes I have to laugh, if I didn't, I would go crazy. Thanks for your joke, it was a good one!

TC said...

Look up ambacrombie on youtube, look for the video with the chihuahua in it. That is me laughing, and laughing, and laughing, but I thought it was funny. I didn't think it was good for me, I thought it might be harmful to my health considering how annoying it sounds to others? LOL

A human kind of human said...

What a delightful video! It had met chuckling happily with this baby and, I guess his Daddy. I, for one, have much to little laughter in my life and this was just what I needed to cheer up my night. Thanks, I will certainly return to this post quite a couple of times.

Sunny said...

I dare anyone to watch that video and not laugh. Without a doubt laughter is the best medicine.
Sunny :)

Anonymous said...

Dear Jo,
that's why it is still possible to play with my small son after a day filled with ten hours of lessons and students telling me that they did not have any homework...
Laughed until he was out of breath and afterwards hugging each other, makes it worth to get up late at night when he asks for milk.
A wonderful weekend for you !

Madeleine said...

I am surprised that you're not a writer! I'm delighted to have found your blog.

<3

The Bug said...

What was so funny to me is that the baby looked like he was getting so tired, but couldn't stop laughing. He was definitely getting a workout!

JoMo said...

I so agree, we Mo's are a laughing bunch. It's so important. Thanks to Monty Python, Steve Martin, Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Carrel & so many others for helping us out on the laughing front!

Brenda said...

My husband just found that video last week and said it was one of the most watched videos. Laughter is contagious. I have had people tell me my laugh is the kind that makes them laugh just hearing it. If it is true I am glad because I couldn't agree more that laughter is very healthy!

Charles Gramlich said...

Lana has always been an advocate of laughter, and I've laughed more since I've been with her than I had in years before. She knows how to make me laugh.

Unknown said...

It's funny how quickly a laugh works to cheer me up!

Jo said...

Alissa, I am the same way. Things strike me as funny, and I have to laugh. I can't keep it in.

TC, your laugh is wonderful...!!! I love to hear people laughing like that. Those two little dogs were a hoot!!!

A Human Kind of Human, I'm glad that little video cheered you up. I laugh every time I see it. It's infectious, isn't it?

Sunny, oh yes. We have a doctor at work who has the most infectious laugh. It's a giggle, really, and I burst out laughing every time I hear it. People have to laugh!

Robert, oh goodness yes, there is nothing like the laughter of little kids. It can cheer anyone up, can't it?

Madeleine, thank you! And welcome. :-) I'm glad you found my blog too.

The Bug, I have a friend who makes me laugh like that, and it's wonderful.

JoMo, you have listed all my favorites -- guaranteed to give me a good belly laugh every time!

Brenda, don't ever lose your laugh. It's the saddest thing when people stop laughing. Keep laughing!

Charles, oh, yes, sharing a laugh is the best thing two people can do. It's really what makes the world go around. :-)

Flowrgirl1, oh, goodness yes! Me too! Laughter truly is the best medicine -- and it's free.

heartinsanfrancisco said...

There is also nothing sexier than a person who enjoys a good laugh and knows how to make others laugh. If everyone looked for that quality in a mate, there would be many more happy people in the world.

Marguerite said...

Laughter is a big part of my daily routine, but it is part of the Cajun nature to find humor in everything. So good for the soul and body. Laughter is the best medicine!!

JR's Thumbprints said...

I no longer use laughter at work, which saddens me. The prison population has changed to mentally disturbed, over-medicated inmates. With the uptick in violence, everyone is much more serious about staying safe. Still I try to laugh whenever I can, whenever I feel it's appropriate.

SparkleFarkel said...

I like sending a friend or family member a feather via snail mail from time to time to remind them to never stop tickling their funny bone. Heck, it couldn't hurt, could it? LOL!

KathyB. said...

The video made me laugh and now I feel even better!

the walking man said...

The negative side of laughter is it kills...at least temporarily negativism...some things deserve the death penalty so laugh away.

Russell said...

So true, so true! Enough said!

Belizegial said...

Josie,

I agree that laughter is good for the soul. So many times I get funny emails from my friend Bibi which I will pass along to you.

The 'laughing baby' video is currently being used here in the tropics as part of a tv commercial for a phone company promoting their texting services. The video is used for the text word 'joke'. LOL

Country Girl said...

Laughter is the best medicine sometimes. I think it's what I miss most about work. I laugh so much there. I go back Tuesday and although I'm a bit anxious about being able to do it, I'm so looking forward to just laughing! Thanks for the video, it's adorable.

Jo said...

Hearts, amen...! Laughter is more important than anything, isn't it? So true!

Marguerite, I think you have more fun than anybody I know! You are indeed very fortunate to live in a society like that. :-)

JR, that's very sad. And it's sad that those folks are in prison, when in fact they should be in hospitals. Try to keep laughing. :-)

Sparkle, what a fabulous idea. You have a wonderfully funny and entertaining blog, so you must be a lot of fun. :-)

Kathy, I'm glad you got a chuckle out of it. Wasn't it fun!?

Mark, oh yes! Negativity flies out the window when people can laugh.

Russell, you have the best sense of humor of anyone I know. Bar none! :-) You deserve a mug-up with some gipe. *heh*

Enid, I love your funny e-mails. I have used a couple of them on my blog. Laughter truly is priceless, isn't it?

Kate, I'm glad to hear you're feeling well enough to go back to work. And yes, laughter is just what the doctor ordered. :-)

The Panorama said...

Great post:) I agree with you, Jo. The world needs more laughter and less stress.
The video was really funny and had me laughing:)

Jo said...

The Panorama, wasn't it cute? I laugh every time I look at it. :-)