Chuckling Is Better Than Cackling

Well, all I can ask is this, would you rather spend an entire day without laughter at all, or a day filled with laughter and being around fun-loving people? It’s a known fact that laughter makes people feel better. Doctors speak of patients who need surgery and how important it is for the patient to be in good spirits before their procedure. One of the best ways that I know of to raise a person’s spirits is to share a good joke or funny story with them.

Could you go through an entire day without as much as a laugh, whether it is a joke on the radio or a co-worker who is naturally funny? If you answered yes, then you may want to stop reading this article any further. I have always believed that humor is a tool used everyday in society to deal with such things as stress, anger, and even loss.

There are many different ways to express humor. One is the dry sense of humor that is conveyed subtly from someone whose personality is pretty low key. When they make a funny, off-hand comment, it strikes others as funny due to their coy nature. Then there is the natural comic who has the magic to make others laugh without trying. They revel in others laughter and have a light and airy sense about them. These individuals can laugh at themselves and do not make jokes at the expense of others.

Daily life can be viewed as serious, depressing and just plain crumby by some. Others choose to have the opposite outlook and invite a good laugh when feeling down. A laugh actually releases endorphins, a hormone in the brain that is responsible for how one reacts emotionally to pain. This hormone is capable of giving people temporary elevation in temperament and can actually make them feel better. I have personally encountered people who are on a fixed income, and even though they may not be able to afford simple luxuries, they remain positive and can offer a good joke and sense of humor on a daily basis.

Have you ever found yourself in traffic on a hot day, tension is high, but suddenly you hear something funny on the radio and laugh out loud? That laugh can temporarily release the frustration and momentarily give you the sense of relief from the tension of the situation (traffic). You may then find that the laugh provided a few extra minutes to calm down and your demeanor may appear to be less anxious.

During times of loss and depression is when I sought out laughter the most. I would rent or go see movies that were comical in nature. I took to watching situation comedies on television for a period of time and consciously stayed clear of serious or depressing subject matter. These things didn’t cure my sadness/loss, but it sure helped to laugh and momentarily forget my sorrow at the time.

Laughter is good medicine. You take it during the hardest of times (maybe with a pint of your favorite ice cream) and when you are ready to handle the tragedy or bad situation at hand the humor may have helped start the foundation to the healing process. Remember this, time is precious and if you can spend it laughing even in rough times; doesn’t it beat the alternative? Make a point to laugh every day and pass it on.