Have you ever thought you were going to die laughing? You laugh uncontrollably, you can’t stop, you feel you can’t control your bladder any longer, matter of fact you might have some leaking… you start crying, in a few minutes others have joined your laughter fest or are so scared that something is going to happen to you soon. It might sound painful but it’s not.
I have been through one of those and I’m guessing you have as well. Maybe it was a silly thing you said, something you remembered or a TV show you are watching… it produces this uncontrollable and contagious type reaction. You can’t stop laughing. It might last a few minutes maybe a little longer, but after it has ended you feel as you just stepped out of the gym. After my laughter fest I have felt breathless but refreshed. Everything looks so clear, like I’m living a high definition life. I then have a renewed sense to continue my day.
BENEFITS OF LAUGHING
Researchers say that laughter is very beneficial to the health. Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) in California says that joyful laughter reduces stress hormones, lowers blood pressure, and elevates a person’s mood. A study from LLUH on memory showed that laughing for 20 minutes can help improve memory in healthy, older adults. Laughing with friends or watching 20 minutes of humor on TV daily can help manage daily stressors. LLU School of medicine says that the act of laughing increases endorphins, sending dopamine to the brain. This provides a sense of pleasure and reward, and the immune system also functions better.
Just knowing these important fact makes me want to start laughing right now. The good news is that this medicine is free and available to all. I think I am funny, not a comedian, but just silly funny. I laugh at my own jokes, laugh when I’m nervous, if the kids are mad or disagreeing I just start laughing and it is a chain reaction that no matter how hard they want to stay mad, it doesn’t work they just start laughing too. People might think my laugh is fake… and sometimes I do fake it to ease tension in a situation but it doesn’t take long for that laugh to turn real.
SURROUNDED BY LAUGHTER
I have always been surrounded by laughter. My mom has such a peculiar laughter and when gathered with her sisters it is truly something you don’t want to miss. They giggle, squeal, cackle, guffaw, howl, cry, so many noises and screaming that scared us as kids but we learned to enjoy and remember. Now, it’s wonderful when they gather during the holidays or on any given day and as they start their conversations and stories, you can’t help but join them in that unique de-stressing session they have.
On any given day of the week when I visit my parents I am sure I will see and hear them laughing. They get a good 30 minute laughter workout while watching AFV (America’s Funniest Home Videos). I love observing my dad just letting go of all life’s stresses and laughing his heart out. Of course, I get my workout too.
GRATITUDE
I am thankful to God for giving us the ability to laugh. We should laugh in the good times and sometimes we have to laugh even amongst difficult times. But there is a beautiful verse in Psalm 126:2 where it says: Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
Let this be our song… that we may enjoy laughter and remember to be grateful and praise our Lord for all his wonderful works in our lives and those around us.
Healthy Collage 