Laughter really is good for your mental and physical health
says researchers who have studied its benefits.
- Laughter strengthens the body’s ability to fight disease. Laughter increases the body’s ability to produce and release bacteria and virus fighters.
- Laughter fights stress. Stressed people have higher levels of cortisol. Studies show that laughter lowers cortisol levels in the body, which makes laughter a natural stress buster. Cortisol also depresses immune function, so laughing is also an immune booster.
- Laughter can lower blood pressure. An ability to laugh at your own mistakes is a good way to lower blood pressure. People who tend to laugh at their own mistakes had the smaller increases in blood pressure following experiences that normally raise blood pressure.
- Laughter increases energy levels. Feeling tired or run down? Have a good laugh. Laughter is a natural pick-me-up.
- Laughter helps us bond with others. Research shows that when we laugh we tend to talk more, make more eye contact and do more of the things that help us connect with others.
- Laughter reduces tension. It’s hard to feel angry, tense or anxious when you’re laughing.
- Laughter is good exercise. Laughing 100 times has the same effect on the body as being on a rowing maching for 10 minutes or a stationary bike for 15 minutes.
- Children laugh about 400 times a day. Adults laugh an average of 15 times a day. No wonder kids have so much energy!
- Laughter sounds the same across cultures, leading some researchers to believe that laughter helped bond our ancestors together. In fact, laughter is so familiar, it can be recognized if played backwards on tape.
- Spend time with people who like to laugh.
- Remember a funny story about yourself or someone that you know.
- Watch children and animals. They naturally do things that make us laugh.
Happiness comes only when we push our brains and hearts to the
farthest reach of which we are capable… Leo Rosten
A LITTLE HUMOR
A man and his wife are awakened at 3 o'clock in the morning by a loud pounding on the door.
The man gets up and goes to the door where a drunken stranger, standing in the pouring rain,
is asking for a push."Not a chance," says the husband, "it is three o'clock in the morning!" He slams the door and returns to bed. "Who was that?" asked his wife.
"Just some drunk guy asking for a push," he answers. "Did you help him?" she asks. "No, I did not, it is three in the morning and it is pouring out!"
"Well, you have a short memory," says his wife. "Can't you remember about three months ago when we broke down and those two guys helped us?
I think you should help him, and should be ashamed of yourself!"
The man does as he is told, gets dressed, and goes out into the pounding rain. He calls out into the dark, "Hello, are you still there?" "
Yes," comes back the answer.
"Do you still need a push?" calls out the husband.
"Yes, please!" the reply comes from the dark.
Where are you?" asks the husband.
"Over here on the swing!" replies the drunk.
