Laughing Medicine
55
They say laughter is the best medicine (in fact other hubs have covered this, and probably more scientifically too). But why is this so? Often people will advise you to smile in order to feel good and you then find that the physical act of smiling actually makes you feel good. In the same vein, laughing lifts the spirits and can even affect the atmosphere of the room.
There's a reason entertainers thrive, even during a depression. People want to laugh, to forget their troubles for a while. And all of us want to try and enjoy life. When you're around someone who gives off that strong life force, you can't help but be smitten. That type of energy is very appealing. I know when I start laughing and really enjoying myself, the dog will jump into my lap, attracted to that positive energy. Not to get all mystical or anything, but good vibes really do resonate well.
Of course we don't always feel like laughing, especially in times of stress or tragedy. But even then, we'll want a break from the relentless oppression of feeling and sneak out for a quick laugh or two. Roberto Benigni portrayed this need so well in the poignant film "Life Is Beautiful". His one mission in the Nazi concentration camp was to keep his son laughing, protecting him from the grim reality of the 1940's. No need to deny the darkness of life, but sometimes you want to lighten it a little bit.
So I recommend keeping up that love and lust for life in as many ways as you can. Laugh with friends and family, watch funny movies, read comic strips and spread a little of that joy. Honor the entertainers - they do us a great service by reminding us of the humor in life. If you can't laugh at yourself sometimes, I feel sorry for you. Humans are flawed and mistakes are impossible to avoid. The bigger ones you'll get over eventually, and the smaller ones, well, who's really going to remember those a year from now, or even a month? Most people are too wrapped up in their own heads to dwell on your embarrassments anyway. I used to be pretty serious about myself and in agony over the occasional faux pas but now I revel in the ridiculous and am the first to make fun of myself. Self-deprecation is an art form that keeps us humble. And funny!
So relax, take a load off.
Smile.
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Kate West Reviews
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I love to laugh even about myself. A few months ago I attended a seminar about relaxation training for children and one of the training is laughter yoga. So I do practise laughter yoga on a day when I forget to laugh or nothing to laugh at all. It is so funny but very relaxing afterwards. Thanks for sharing.
Great hub and excellent advise. I can take myself too seriously at times and can get hung about it as well. So I will keep your hub safe and read it whenever I need reminded to lighten up a bit. Voted up + awesome.
Wonderful Hub and so true. I laugh at myself daily....and....I laugh a lot. :)
Great advice! It's very therapeutic indeed to laugh - especially at oneself! :)
Thanks for the positive reinforcement. mikeq107 - that is powerful laughter indeed!
Great advice. I think as we get older we tend to focus on the negative, always running around trying to fix things and we forget to find joy, to laugh. Life is short. Why not enjoy it? Thank you for reminding me.
(laughing) You said it all. I've been laughing out loud for the past 3 months on a daily basis. Thanks. great hub!
Ps Voted up and shared with followers!!!!
Hi Kate :0)
Great hub! I grew up in Ireland where it was a natural phenomenon on a daily basis. We saw humor in everything, from funerals to graduation. We used it as a powerful medicine. Point being it just came naturally to most of us.
I remember flying home to see my Dad as he lay dying of emphysema in his hospital bed enclosed an oxygen tent at age 64.
His bed was on the fourth floor next to the window. My first words of greeting to him as I looked at him and out the window were
“Well your bungee jumping days are over”
He coughed and hacked as he laughed and so did his bed neighbor. Then my brother showed up from Australia and between the three of us, we set a Forrest on fire. My Mother was dying of Leukemia on the 3ard floor. It was the best family reunion we had in years. They are both dead now but none of us will forget that time with it sadness and laughter to booth ;0)
Nobody had to teach us how to do it..It just came naturally, just like every other gift God has given.
I have been living in The USA 24 years now, until I came here, I had never heard of the term politically correct. I truly believe it has killed a lot of natural laughter. Take a good look at the proponents of this virus- they look like they have just come from the embalming table, honestly I bet they have never enjoyed a true orgasm . No, I think they are just waiting for Jack Kavorkien to show up.
I once saw a cartoon strip . In the scene Was Jay leno and sitting in the hot seat was God and God was answering Jays Question.
“Emmm My Best Creation, Emmm, I would have to say the sense of humor,
But unfortunately those that claim to believe in me the most are the least likely to use it”
Boy, I cracked up and realized how much I missed natural humor in a country that would not die laughing.
Since then I have used that natural gift even more. All of us have it, it truly does come naturally. The trouble is many of us try too hard to be funny and are worried about what other people think. What we have to remember is that in the next 50 odd years some underpaid gravedigger is going to shovel dirt on their faces after they visit dear old Jack!
Life is too short, live in The God given moment, go with those first thoughts because they are yours and original. Someone God Loves needs to hear them so they can lighten up and besides they can give themselves permission to worry tomorrow…:0)
Mike ;0)
Very nice hub, I have a few of a similar nature you my be interested in. Laughing and feeling good is a positive thing.
Great write up KateWest. Love the picture of the dog.
Hi KateWest, it's not always easy, but your right looking on the bright side, smiling and laughing helps a lot, being positive and living your life with your 'glass being half full' helps, excellent hub and voted up.
It does work because just reading your title made me smile. I, too, have written about laughter and the best medicine and so on - but darn it - we just keep forgetting and too often go around frowning.
So your hub is so timely and a great reminder to enjoy friends and family (we tend to have the same sense of humor) - and a bit of lust and so on. Yay! - and thanks a million!
It's important to deal with life and reality but finding a balance to relieve stress works too.
Thanks KateWest. At first, I thought you were going to suggest denial of pain and acting happy all the time. I work with someone who does that, and it's kind of sad. I like how you show how to use humor even when we're feeling stressed or having difficult times.... and how to laugh at ourselves instead of taking ourselves so seriously. Thanks for some good thoughts to start my day off right:)
Katewest,you have written about a very valid and important issue especially in recent times. Our lives have become hectic and full of stress. Laughter ,then,is the most effective and cost-free medicine.Apart from carrying our responsibilities and doing our duties,a lot remains to be done as many things and circumstances are not within our control. Inorder to overcome our small and big failures,disappointments etc, we must try to take regular dose of laughter to remain healthy and for taking that dose,it is essential to have a healthy environment by enhancing our sense of humour! Laughter,is,indeed,the best medicine! great hub!
Ingenira Level 5 Commenter 9 months ago
Well said. Laughing relaxes the muscle.