Laughter

Over the weekend I was down on the floor playing with my granddaughter. My wife walked into the room to show us her new peacock blue fingernails and toenails. Chloe and I both assured her they looked great. When my wife left the room Chloe looked at me and said, “Paw Paw, I think she should have done that when she was younger”.

Yesterday I came to work to find an email from a friend who is a yoga instructor. The email was about the importance of occasionally acting silly. I would like to share part of this email with you.

Humor is infectious. Being silly always leads to lots of laughter. The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. In addition to the domino effect of joy and amusement, laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the body. That's because laughter helps the pituitary gland release its own pain-suppressing opiates. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.

Sometimes people ask me how I have stayed married for 37 years. I would have to say that one very important reason is humor. Although my wife and I have certainly had our moments of silence, we have also laughed a lot. Although we are very different, one thing we share is a healthy irreverence towards most things in life. We both believe that sacred cows make wonderful hamburgers. Life’s foibles, and our own aging, are the source of much laughter. If you get me on a roll, I could give Robin Williams a run for his money. So, whoever you are, and whatever you are doing, don’t take yourself too seriously. If you do, get over it and laugh a little. It will make you and everyone around you feel a whole lot better.