Laugh a Lot
I was making my monthly run to that big membership box store when I experienced one of those rare parking lot moments. The guy in the next space rolled down his car windows to make sure his dog had fresh air. The dog was stretched out in the back seat, and the guy clearly wanted to impress upon his dog that he must stay in the car. The dog owner got out and walked backwards to the curb, shaking his finger for emphasis and commanding, “Now you stay. Do you hear me? Stay!”
Then another driver got out of an adjacent car and scratches his head at the fellow who’s giving the order to “stay,” and says, “Man, just put your car in park.”
I couldn’t help myself. I burst out laughing, and in that unexpected moment of spontaneous hilarity, I was reminded once again of how important it is to laugh. It feels so-o-o good. There’s plenty of everyday humor all around us if we are willing to be present, to listen, look and see the humor in any situation.
Now, more than ever, with all of the challenges we face – from the economy to ecosystems to healthcare – laughter can provide us relief.
One of my favorite humorists is Swami Beyondananda. He suggests that we begin making changes by starting a new political party, the Right-To-Laugh Party, to encourage peoples of the world to laugh together instead of crying separately. I think he’s onto something.
This enlightened swami wants us to heal conditions like “Deficit Inattention Disorder, Truth Decay and the deadliest one of all, an unchecked Military Industrial Complex.”
When we’re surrounded by a sea of bad news, Swami reminds us that we can’t use more energy than what we have in reserve. “We cannot charge energy on our Ascended Master Card and repay it next lifetime.” We must face our situation -- facing it with plenty of humor brings new ways of seeing what otherwise might seem overwhelming.
Taking a cue from the Swami, I doubly appreciate why it took Buddha forever to vacuum his sofa. He didn’t have any attachments.
Whether it’s a simple knock-knock joke based on puns or words misused or misunderstood, seeing the absurdity in everyday situations not only feels good but also is good for what ails us. Just as our bodies need us to tune into the importance of walking every day, our mental health needs us to be on the lookout for everyday chances to grin, chuckle and laugh.
You may recall the story of author Norman Cousins who overcame a serious chronic disease by laughing at his favorite comedy shows such as Candid Camera and Marx Brothers movies. He also hired a nurse to read funny stories to him -- and found that ten minutes of hearty laughing could provide him two hours of pain-free relief. Soon he was off painkillers and other medications. Check out his book, Anatomy of an Illness, for more details on his laughing therapy.
Perhaps it’s useful to ask, do we laugh because we’re happy and healthy, or are we happy and healthy because you laugh? Let’s take a closer look.
Laughter provides instant stress relief and an antidote to most suffering. Instead of spending millions on expensive prescription drugs, we’d do well to consider using this built-in coping mechanism. Finding ways to apply big doses of grins, giggles and laughter instead of downing prescription cocktails could eliminate all kinds of problems and leave us with many good side effects.
Fifteen small muscles squeeze your face into a smile, increasing the blood flow, bringing a happy glow to your face when you laugh. Your mouth opens and letting out those great ha-ha-ha’s increases your intake of oxygen in huge gulps. Laughter oxygenates all your organs, boosts your immune system function by elevating health-enhancing hormones like endorphins while reducing stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine. No wonder laughing gives you a general sense of well-being.
There’s more. Laughter elevates your vocal response to infectious hysteria. It wrestles your vessels, causing the diaphragm muscles to pump down and up, giving them a good workout. All that air exchange enriches your body’s blood oxygen level. It’s an inner trip to the gym without running two miles for a workout.
Think about it. The moment laughter bubbles up, irritations and resentments slip away. It has no negative side effects. Can you imagine an entire community enjoying laugh fests – everything from deep, belly-shaking laughter to giggles and smiles galore? That’s what one person imagined in 1995.
Dr. Madan Kataria, a Bombay physician, believes that laughter is good for the heart and soul. He founded the International Laughter Club movement knowing that laughter is a universal language with the potential of uniting humanity. Dr. Kataria encourages all ages to spread out their arms and laugh for no reason.
Reminders are everywhere. Santa ho-ho-ho’s himself down the chimney. Alfred E. Neuman has that eternal grin. The Dalai Lama giggles his way to enlightenment and the Laughing Buddha is reminding you to laugh, laugh, laugh. Even the digital smiley-face icons remind us to put on a happy face. And LOL, acronym for Laughing Out Loud, pops up endlessly in text messages and emails.
All you have to do is tap into it. Humor tickles each of us differently, and there’s plenty to go around. You can even jump start laughter by tickling your willing but unsuspecting partner under the arms, under the ribs and under the neck. Giggling and wiggling are good for body, mind and psyche.
A good laugh at your own expense can be a humbling, humanizing and richly entertaining experience. No need to always take yourself so seriously.
When my granddaughter was barely three, I’d walk around the house with her, pointing to objects and asking, “What color is this?” She’d respond, then I’d praise her correct answers and continue with my self-created lesson in learning colors. It didn’t take long before she turned my little efforts upside down. “Grammy,” she asked, “why don’t know your colors?” Ah, the gift of humor from the words of a child.
I love the story of the heart surgeon who was waiting to talk with the service manager at a motorcycle repair shop. A mechanic, removing a cylinder head from a Harley engine, recognized the surgeon and called out, “Hey, Doc, look at this engine. I open its heart, take valves out, fix ‘em, put ‘em back in, and when I finish, it works just like new. So, how come I get such a small salary and you get the big bucks, when we are doing basically the same work?”
The surgeon paused, smiled, leaned over and said, “Try doing it with the engine running.”
Humor has proven so useful in treating people’s illnesses that there are clowning programs that bring laughter and joy to the bedside. These programs train Clown Doctors and provide good humor services to hospitals, nursing homes and rehab centers.
No question, the more you laugh, the more you elevate everyone’s mood. Laughing is a social activity – a great pastime to share with friends. Games like charades, bunco or croquet on the lawn create a light-hearted mood and bring joyful laughter.
You can easily incorporate laughter into your daily routine by watching 30 minutes of comedy each morning – reruns of I Love Lucy, Friends, or Laurel & Hardy. Watch feel-good films – Groundhog Day, Little Miss Sunshine, and Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? Listen to audio recordings of your favorite stand-up comedians as you commute to work – Lily Thomlin, Woody Allen, Drew Carey and hundreds of others.
You’ll often find holy hilarity in your newspaper or Sunday church bulletins, too. I enjoy spotting humorous errors and typos: “Thursday night, potluck supper. Prayer and medication to follow.” Or, “A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.” I especially like these two: “Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday. Please use the back door.” And, “The new tithing campaign slogan: I Upped My Pledge. Up Yours.”
When you find yourself all too serious and want to encourage more laughing in your life, spend more time with kids – yours or a friend’s, or better yet, your grandkids. An average six-year old laughs 300 times a day while an adult laughs only 15 to 100 times.
Don’t be afraid to be spontaneous and silly. It’s a great idea to prepare yourself with humor tools -- cartoons, jokes, signs and even props. Rubber chickens, anyone? Or how about a whoopee cushion or Grouch Marx glasses, complete with nose and mustache? Have fun. Whistle a happy tune. Take up clowning. Or, make-up silly songs to suit a special occasion. Image a kindergarten class singing “row, row, ho-ho-ho; gently down the stream; giggly, wiggly, sniggly hee; happy all are we” as they travel on the ferry to Seattle.
Laughter is the best medicine. So, go ahead -- laugh. Laugh a lot!
Then another driver got out of an adjacent car and scratches his head at the fellow who’s giving the order to “stay,” and says, “Man, just put your car in park.”
I couldn’t help myself. I burst out laughing, and in that unexpected moment of spontaneous hilarity, I was reminded once again of how important it is to laugh. It feels so-o-o good. There’s plenty of everyday humor all around us if we are willing to be present, to listen, look and see the humor in any situation.
Now, more than ever, with all of the challenges we face – from the economy to ecosystems to healthcare – laughter can provide us relief.
One of my favorite humorists is Swami Beyondananda. He suggests that we begin making changes by starting a new political party, the Right-To-Laugh Party, to encourage peoples of the world to laugh together instead of crying separately. I think he’s onto something.
This enlightened swami wants us to heal conditions like “Deficit Inattention Disorder, Truth Decay and the deadliest one of all, an unchecked Military Industrial Complex.”
When we’re surrounded by a sea of bad news, Swami reminds us that we can’t use more energy than what we have in reserve. “We cannot charge energy on our Ascended Master Card and repay it next lifetime.” We must face our situation -- facing it with plenty of humor brings new ways of seeing what otherwise might seem overwhelming.
Taking a cue from the Swami, I doubly appreciate why it took Buddha forever to vacuum his sofa. He didn’t have any attachments.
Whether it’s a simple knock-knock joke based on puns or words misused or misunderstood, seeing the absurdity in everyday situations not only feels good but also is good for what ails us. Just as our bodies need us to tune into the importance of walking every day, our mental health needs us to be on the lookout for everyday chances to grin, chuckle and laugh.
You may recall the story of author Norman Cousins who overcame a serious chronic disease by laughing at his favorite comedy shows such as Candid Camera and Marx Brothers movies. He also hired a nurse to read funny stories to him -- and found that ten minutes of hearty laughing could provide him two hours of pain-free relief. Soon he was off painkillers and other medications. Check out his book, Anatomy of an Illness, for more details on his laughing therapy.
Perhaps it’s useful to ask, do we laugh because we’re happy and healthy, or are we happy and healthy because you laugh? Let’s take a closer look.
Laughter provides instant stress relief and an antidote to most suffering. Instead of spending millions on expensive prescription drugs, we’d do well to consider using this built-in coping mechanism. Finding ways to apply big doses of grins, giggles and laughter instead of downing prescription cocktails could eliminate all kinds of problems and leave us with many good side effects.
Fifteen small muscles squeeze your face into a smile, increasing the blood flow, bringing a happy glow to your face when you laugh. Your mouth opens and letting out those great ha-ha-ha’s increases your intake of oxygen in huge gulps. Laughter oxygenates all your organs, boosts your immune system function by elevating health-enhancing hormones like endorphins while reducing stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine. No wonder laughing gives you a general sense of well-being.
There’s more. Laughter elevates your vocal response to infectious hysteria. It wrestles your vessels, causing the diaphragm muscles to pump down and up, giving them a good workout. All that air exchange enriches your body’s blood oxygen level. It’s an inner trip to the gym without running two miles for a workout.
Think about it. The moment laughter bubbles up, irritations and resentments slip away. It has no negative side effects. Can you imagine an entire community enjoying laugh fests – everything from deep, belly-shaking laughter to giggles and smiles galore? That’s what one person imagined in 1995.
Dr. Madan Kataria, a Bombay physician, believes that laughter is good for the heart and soul. He founded the International Laughter Club movement knowing that laughter is a universal language with the potential of uniting humanity. Dr. Kataria encourages all ages to spread out their arms and laugh for no reason.
Reminders are everywhere. Santa ho-ho-ho’s himself down the chimney. Alfred E. Neuman has that eternal grin. The Dalai Lama giggles his way to enlightenment and the Laughing Buddha is reminding you to laugh, laugh, laugh. Even the digital smiley-face icons remind us to put on a happy face. And LOL, acronym for Laughing Out Loud, pops up endlessly in text messages and emails.
All you have to do is tap into it. Humor tickles each of us differently, and there’s plenty to go around. You can even jump start laughter by tickling your willing but unsuspecting partner under the arms, under the ribs and under the neck. Giggling and wiggling are good for body, mind and psyche.
A good laugh at your own expense can be a humbling, humanizing and richly entertaining experience. No need to always take yourself so seriously.
When my granddaughter was barely three, I’d walk around the house with her, pointing to objects and asking, “What color is this?” She’d respond, then I’d praise her correct answers and continue with my self-created lesson in learning colors. It didn’t take long before she turned my little efforts upside down. “Grammy,” she asked, “why don’t know your colors?” Ah, the gift of humor from the words of a child.
I love the story of the heart surgeon who was waiting to talk with the service manager at a motorcycle repair shop. A mechanic, removing a cylinder head from a Harley engine, recognized the surgeon and called out, “Hey, Doc, look at this engine. I open its heart, take valves out, fix ‘em, put ‘em back in, and when I finish, it works just like new. So, how come I get such a small salary and you get the big bucks, when we are doing basically the same work?”
The surgeon paused, smiled, leaned over and said, “Try doing it with the engine running.”
Humor has proven so useful in treating people’s illnesses that there are clowning programs that bring laughter and joy to the bedside. These programs train Clown Doctors and provide good humor services to hospitals, nursing homes and rehab centers.
No question, the more you laugh, the more you elevate everyone’s mood. Laughing is a social activity – a great pastime to share with friends. Games like charades, bunco or croquet on the lawn create a light-hearted mood and bring joyful laughter.
You can easily incorporate laughter into your daily routine by watching 30 minutes of comedy each morning – reruns of I Love Lucy, Friends, or Laurel & Hardy. Watch feel-good films – Groundhog Day, Little Miss Sunshine, and Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? Listen to audio recordings of your favorite stand-up comedians as you commute to work – Lily Thomlin, Woody Allen, Drew Carey and hundreds of others.
You’ll often find holy hilarity in your newspaper or Sunday church bulletins, too. I enjoy spotting humorous errors and typos: “Thursday night, potluck supper. Prayer and medication to follow.” Or, “A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.” I especially like these two: “Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday. Please use the back door.” And, “The new tithing campaign slogan: I Upped My Pledge. Up Yours.”
When you find yourself all too serious and want to encourage more laughing in your life, spend more time with kids – yours or a friend’s, or better yet, your grandkids. An average six-year old laughs 300 times a day while an adult laughs only 15 to 100 times.
Don’t be afraid to be spontaneous and silly. It’s a great idea to prepare yourself with humor tools -- cartoons, jokes, signs and even props. Rubber chickens, anyone? Or how about a whoopee cushion or Grouch Marx glasses, complete with nose and mustache? Have fun. Whistle a happy tune. Take up clowning. Or, make-up silly songs to suit a special occasion. Image a kindergarten class singing “row, row, ho-ho-ho; gently down the stream; giggly, wiggly, sniggly hee; happy all are we” as they travel on the ferry to Seattle.
Laughter is the best medicine. So, go ahead -- laugh. Laugh a lot!
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