Laughter Truly is the Best Medicine!

As a child, I recall that my mom subscribed to Reader's Digest magazine. One of their regular features was "Laughter is the Best Medicine". At that age I alway tried to read those selections, along with their "Humor in Uniform" section. As an adult, I came to realize the depth of that concept.

Stress relief from laughter? It's no joke. When it comes to relieving stress, more giggles and guffaws are just what the doctor ordered. Here's why......
In a Mayo Clinic article under the heading of Stress Management we are told........
"Whether you're guffawing at a sitcom on TV or quietly giggling at a newspaper cartoon, laughing does you good. Laughter is a great form of stress relief, and that's no joke."

A good sense of humor can't cure all situation, but much data has been collected about the positive things laughter can do.
"Consider these short-term benefits to regular laughter. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. Laughter can:
*Stimulate many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
*Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
*Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress."
Laughter also has many long-term benefits like pain relief, overcoming mild depression, and more!

I have always enjoyed the expereience of the national journalist, Norman Cousins! During a business trip to Russia, Cousins acquired a terrible disease. Upon his return, he was hospitalized but declining as the desease progressed. In his book, Anatomy of an Illness (As Perceived by the Patient), Cousins tells how he removed himself from the hospital, improving his comfort, and immersed himself in funny movies.
As is usually the case, we also receive guidance from the Bible! In Proverbs 17:22 it tells us, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

For our own health, we really need to lighten up and
LAUGH AT THE WORLD!