Ask me to come up with my favorite memories in life and they would almost certainly involve lots of laughter. I often reminisce about nights out with my sisters and laughing till my sides hurt, or listening to my talented brother do his famous impressions. Sitting around the dinner table and laughing with my kids while they tell silly stories, now that makes my heart sing!
I have always appreciated and craved humor. My dad, in his family letters, would always include a comic or a humorous saying. I just loved that. I admire a quick wit and the ability some people have to make me laugh. Sometimes the humor is obvious, other times you have to be a good listener to hear the subtle humor that a person offers.
In Proverbs 17:22 we read, “A joyful heart is good medicine.” Laughter creates healthy physical and emotional responses in the body. It strengthens your immune system, triggers the release of endorphins, helps to protect your heart, and can exercise those stomach muscles. Emotionally it can relieve stress, improve energy and diffuse built up anger. It will almost certainly leave you in a better mood and may even add years to your life.
But most importantly is what laughter can do for you in your relationships. It draws you closer to people, and helps you be less critical of others. If you share laughter together your relationship will stay fresh and spontaneous. You will love more and be less defensive.
With laughter there is an exchange of infectious energy. Be around a person laughing and eventually you will start laughing too. Remember the TV show, “Make Me Laugh”? The person sat in a chair and had comedians perform in front of them and the longer they could keep from laughing, the more money they made. But with the crowd laughing around them it was hard to keep a straight face for long. Laughing is fun-we want to join in and it makes us feel great!
Sometimes life hits us hard and we are in pain and discomfort and we don’t feel like laughing. But even then, it can help us find relief from the stress of our situation.
How do we laugh when we don’t feel like it? The first thing to do is smile. When you smile more, you begin to feel the happy effects. You open up your heart and you signal to people that you are ready to relax and laugh. Place items around your environment to remind you to smile like funny sayings, quirky coffee cups and fun socks- anything to help you start your day with a smile. Tell yourself that you are going to smile every time you see another person or enter your home or every time you wake up in the morning.
Introduce more comedy in your life. Listen to your favorite comedian or choose to watch funny shows. Read funny books, or go to a comedy club on a date night. Have game nights with friends or family and let the laughter roll!
And finally, for me, one of the most important things is hang out with funny people that make you laugh. I love to laugh. I can’t get enough of it. It makes me happy. So if you think you can “make me laugh” let’s hang out! I hope you smile today.
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