Dr. William Fry, a Stanford University psychiatrist, noted that children laugh more than four hundred times a day, whereas adults laugh only about a dozen times a day. Norman Cousins in his book Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient, calls laughter “inner jogging” because a good-hearted belly laugh gives every system of the body a workout.

 

Have you ever laughed so hard you had to force yourself to stop just so you could breathe?

Laughter is one of those ‘mystical’ things we humans do that cause biological change inside of us.

Laughter literally changes our DNA and triggers chemical reactions that improve our health.

Now you may wonder why I would write about laughter at such a serious time when the entire world appears to be living in a deep state of fear and anxiety. Should we just pull the sheets over our heads and tuck ourselves away until the coast is clear?

 

I say no to that.

 

Your mindset matters. A lot! And a mindset of fear is a sure formula for the destruction of your body and a shortening of your lifespan. Here’s why. Fear isn’t confined to your mind – it ripples through you like a shock wave zapping everything in its path. . .

  • Fear freezes you in your tracks and impairs your ability to think clearly – if you can think at all. 
  • Shuts down your memory
  • Weakens your immune system
  • Throws your hormones out of whack
  • Triggers panic attacks, anxiety, depression, and mood disorders
  • Increases your heart rate and blood pressure
  • Increases bad cholesterol
  • Increases your risk for disease
  • Compromises your longevity

That’s enough for me to consider an antidote. And although there are assorted ways to handle it that I’ve written about before, here’s my favorite:

Laughter!

 

This funny little piece came into my in-basket this morning. It made me laugh and got me to thinking. . . We all need to laugh more. So I’m sharing it in hopes that it may lighten your day. . .

 

Remain Calm!

Wash Your Hands!

If you’re reading this the world has NOT ended.

Great Truths Little Children have learned. . .

  • No matter how hard you try, you can’t baptize cats.
  • When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don’t let her brush your hair.
  • If your sister hits you, don’t hit her back. They always catch the second person.
  • Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
  • You can’t trust dogs to watch your food.
  • Don’t sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
  • Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
  • You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
  • Don’t wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
  • The best place to be when you’re sad is Grandma’s lap. 

 

Great truths adults have learned. . .

  • Raising teenagers is like nailing Jello to a tree.
  • Wrinkles don’t hurt.
  • Families are like fudge…mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
  • Today’s mighty oak is just yesterday’s nut that held its ground.
  • Laughing is good exercise. It’s like jogging on the inside.
  • Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy. 

 

Great truths about growing up. . .

  • Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
  • Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
  • When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you’re down there.
  • You’re getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
  • It’s frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
  • Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician.
  • Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone. 

 

The four stages of life…

  • You believe in Santa Claus.
  • You don’t believe in Santa Claus.
  • You are Santa Claus.
  • You look like Santa Claus. 

 

Success

  • At age 4 success is . . . Not wetting your pants.
  • At age 12 success is . . . Having friends.
  • At age 17 success is . . . Having a driver’s license.
  • At age 35 success is . . . Having money.
  • At age 50 success is . . . Having money.
  • At age 70 success is . . . Having a driver’s license.
  • At age 75 success is . . . Having friends.
  • At age 80 success is . . . Not wetting your pants.

 

Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way. 

BUT NEVER forget the blessings that come each day. 

 

And a note about the science

 

A Norwegian study of 53,556 women and men in their country assessed the cognitive, social, and affective components of humor and examined death from specific conditions: heart disease, infection, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  Here’s what they found. . .

Women with high scores on the humor component were associated with a 48% less risk of death from all causes, a 73% lower risk of death from heart disease, and an 83% lower risk of death from infection. Something to consider.

 

Laughter is our best medicine. . .

  • It promotes longevity
  • Heals the brain
  • Boosts your immune system
  • Perks up your heart – and your attitude
  • Laughter exercises your lungs
  • Laughter heals you!

 

Always look for the upside and notice the little things – and funny passages that come your way and make you smile!

Hope this helped!!!

In love & health,

 

Your Youthkeeper™ ♥

PS – share your thoughts with us below and post something fun that will make us all laugh!