​Laughing all the Way to Health!

​This July our Pandora Music at the salon insisted on playing Christmas music. It made us laugh. 
Over the 4th of July weekend, I drove to San Diego with my sister,Maggie, and her husband, Gary. I sat in the back seat of their SUV, feeling like Ms. Daisy, with a great driver. Maggie and I remembered our times traveling with our parents to California. We laughed as we told our stories and Gary made sure he found the cleanest restrooms for us to stop. The more we laughed, the more we had to stop. We recommend the restrooms at Home Depot in El Centro. 

Although Samantha at the salon is quiet in her manner, she has a great sense of humor. Actually, she is really funny with remarks about things that I completely miss. We laugh…a lot. 
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When women make a list of the kind of man they want for a life companion, sense of humor is a top 3 quality. I agree, and I’m sure that goes for men as well, right after good looking. 

How much does laugher affect our lives? I recently discovered an article written by the Mayo Clinic Staff:
 
“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.

Stress relief from laughter: A good sense of humor can't cure all ailments, but data is mounting about the positive things laughter can do.

Short-term benefits: A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body.

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. 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.

Long-term effects: Laughter isn't just a quick pick-me-up, though. It's also good for you over the long term.

Improve your immune system: Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. By contrast, positive thoughts can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.

Relieve pain: Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
Increase personal satisfaction: Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.

Improve your mood: Many people experience depression, sometimes due to chronic illnesses. Laughter can help lessen your depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier.

Improve your sense of humor: Are you afraid you have an underdeveloped — or nonexistent — sense of humor? No problem. Humor can be learned. In fact, developing or refining your sense of humor may be easier than you think.

Put humor on your horizon. Find a few simple items, such as photos, greeting cards or comic strips, that make you chuckle. Then hang them up at home or in your office. Keep funny movies, books, magazines or comedy videos on hand for when you need an added humor boost. Look online at joke websites. Go to a comedy club.

Laugh and the world laughs with you. Find a way to laugh about your own situations and watch your stress begin to fade away. Even if it feels forced at first, practice laughing. It does your body good.”

I would like to add one more laughter tip: Don’t take yourself so seriously. Of course, there are serious things going on around us. People hurt and hurt each other. But there is also much that is decent, beautiful and remarkable. Do what you can to be helpful, kind and caring, educate yourself and have an informed view. Then find time to laugh, a lot. It’s good for you. 

With love and laughter,
Hilda