 Home | Recent News | Newton | Laughter | Printme 06 Apr 2006 Laughter is still the best medicine April showers bring May flowers! And with those showers, we experience the joy of the spring season renewing all the beauty and life we have missed during the dreary winter months. We notice the buds on the trees, the warmth of the breeze, and the birds and the bees. Yes, I did mention the birds and the bees, but consider Bob Hope’s take on the subject: “My father told me of the birds and the bees once, the liar. I went steady with a woodpecker until I was 21!” April just happens to be National Humor Month as well as Stress Awareness Month. Perhaps it’s a coincidence that humor relieves stress, but think about how painless laughter is when compared to stress. Humor can actually cut stress levels in half. By adopting the right attitude, we can take a negative thought and create a positive one — just by keeping our senses of humor. Bob Hope said it best, “I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful.” Consider these points about health and humor: - Laughter reduces stress
- Lowers blood pressure
- Elevates mood
- Boosts immune system
- Improves brain functioning
- Protects the heart
- Connects you to others
- Fosters instant relaxation
There are many ways to expand your sense of humor. To start, look for everyday humor. Observe young children and learn how to find amusement in the most ordinary things. Increase your exposure to comedies, or watch a comical sitcom. Another way to find humor is to spend time with those who help you see the bright side whenever possible, while trying to avoid those who are negative. In addition, start a funny file! Collect jokes, comic strips, pen humorous thoughts into a notebook or listen to a funny tape. By starting a “funny file,” it helps remind you to have fun. Another way to expand your sense of humor is to spend time with funny friends. Last month, we hosted our Healthy Living Seminar with guest speakers from The Red Hat Society. In full Red Hat regalia, speaker Cheryl Andrews and her guests introduced us to life in the Red Hat Society. It was an afternoon full of laughter, as she gave us tips on how to start our own Red Hat Society and introduced us to the rules of the society. Perhaps one of the most beneficial aspects of a group like this, is that they require you not set rules. The entire goal is to have fun! Finally, consider this point: When you feel like laughing the least, you need it the most. Humor is a terrific survival skill. It helps us cope, conquer and carry on. We begin to solve our problems when we begin to see the humor in them. As you work to train yourself to find humor in everyday life, I will leave you with one last Bob Hope quote: “A smile is good for you. Have you ever heard of a laughing hyena with heartburn?”
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