Laughter Heals

A funny thing happened to me on the way out of 2016; I laughed. It has been a difficult year for many people and we have to remember Plato’s remark, "Even the Gods love jokes." People underestimate the power of laughter. The physical effects of laughter on the body include increased breathing, increased oxygen use, short-term changes in hormones and certain neurotransmitters, and increased heart rate.

Laughter can be a powerful antidote to depression and anxiety – without a prescription and without side effects. Laughter relieves tension, improves our sense of well-being, serves as an outlet for anger and provides a healthy escape from reality.

William Fry, M.D., professor of psychiatry at Stanford University Medical School and expert on health and laughter, reports the average kindergarten student laughs 300 times a day. Yet, adults average just 17 laughs a day. Why the difference? Are we too uptight, too tense? Do we take life too seriously? Isn’t it time we learned how to relax? We don’t stop laughing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop laughing. So, if we want to fly like the angels and share in their happiness, we’ll have to follow their example and take ourselves lightly.

Did you know that laughter strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, triggers the release of endorphin's which give you a sense of well-being, reduces stress and anxiety because it naturally relaxes you? Keep in mind humor isn’t about merely telling jokes; it’s the way we view the world. We can be sincere about life without taking it so seriously. We can laugh about our mistakes and pain. So lighten up! You need to laugh more. Look for the humor in your everyday problems. You can worry yourself sick, or laugh till you wee yourself.

This is Tyler Woods laughing in peace.