For Her: LAUGHTER - IT’S THE BEST MEDICINE

Laughter

IT’S THE BEST MEDICINE

BY MICHELLE OIE

Did you know that after giving up on being a nanny, Mary Poppins moved to Beverly Hills to become a fortune-teller? She reads your future not by looking at the lines on your palm but by smelling your breath. They call her the Super-California-Mystic-Expert-Halitosis.

Every single morning I get hit by the same bike. It’s a vicious cycle.

What do you call a snarky criminal falling down the stairs? A condescending con descending.

Did you hear about the short psychic who escaped from prison? She was a small medium at large.

Aren’t these great? When I first read these on my daily pun calendar, I laughed out loud. Some folks don’t care much for pun jokes but I love them (the jokes). I think my pun love is hereditary because my dad is a pun master.

I grew up with “The Three Stooges,” “The Far Side,” “Seinfeld,” “Frasier” and “Looney Tunes” as my go-tos for a good chuckle. #Ilovethe80s

Laughing is fun. Especially when I’ve laughed so long and so hard that tears start rolling down my face, my cheek and stomach muscles start to fatigue and it’s a bit hard to breathe. What’s best is the look on people’s faces as they watch me laugh which makes me laugh even more! I feel great after a good laugh.

Laughter is contagious, too. Have you seen that video where a guy starts laughing on a public transit bus and soon after everyone on the bus is laughing? It’s awesome.

It’s said that laughter is the best medicine but did you know that’s actually true? Minnesota’s own Mayo Clinic says there are short-term and long-term benefits to laughter.

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. 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.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS

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

• 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.

I knew laughter could reduce stress, but it can fight illness, pain, depression and anxiety? Wow! And the best part is, you can have as much of this medicine as you want and it’s free.

I don’t enjoy feeling bad physically or emotionally so I do everything I can to enjoy life’s natural highs. I try to make others feel good (keyword “try”) with uplifting written notes or texts, surprises or parties. I watch my weight and what I eat and drink. I get outside for fresh air and I try to find humor in what life throws at me. I admit I can go days or weeks without laughing, but when I do have an encounter that tickles my funny bone, it’s like water to a dried-up, dehydrated plant.

When was the last time you laughed? I don’t mean smiled or chuckled, but really belly laughed? Was it because of a show, person or event? Try to position yourself for being able to laugh as much as you can because not only are you brightening up your day and potentially living longer because of it, you are positively impacting other people’s lives and that is what makes the world better for us all.

Michelle Oie is an inspirational speaker, blogger, coach, freelance writer and soon-to-be author whose passion is helping people find their unique life purpose. She loves Jeep Wranglers, peanut butter and hitting all green lights driving through Brainerd. Learn more at www.michelleoie.com.