LAUGHTER... IS CRAZY! And I LOVE IT!

Do you know I love it when people say, 'GIRL YOU ARE CRAZY'!  I take that as a compliment!  REALLY!  It means I have made them laugh!  I love the fact that my friends will belly laugh with me, and that I will in return give a good SNORT of appreciation.  I love Woody Allen's quote, although I would like to rewrite it:  I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose.  I do believe when something is THAT FUNNY, whatever you are consuming SHOULD definitely come out of your nose!  : )  There are so many wonderful things that have been said about laughter!  Here are just a few: a fundamental stress reliever, a visual expression of happiness, being tickled, the best medicine, an internal workout, and on and on!  NOW, with all of that said, HOW can crazy, maniacal laughter not be good for you?

It is amazing to me the number of studies that have been done on the benefits of laughter- CRAZY in fact.  Just google the word laughter and you will be amazed at the multitude of articles that pop up.  I will share just a few of the benefits I have read about!

1) Laughter can help relieve pain”!  Now, I find this amusing.... but I do plan on putting this to the test the next time I stub my toe, or fall off my shoes (oh yes my friends, it happens more often that I care to mention!) or when I get a smack upside the head for a 'stupid moment'!  BUT, seriously, I have found that when I have a headache, or cramps which I shall not discuss,  lest I offend any male readers, I do make a sincere effort to find something to laugh about, OR better yet, I will call one of my CRAZY friends, (you know who you are), and I find that laughing with them or even on my own (although that does raise questions in the minds of those watching me!) does take my mind off the pain, and focuses my attention on joy!

2) “Laughter brings greater happiness”!  Now, being the wise acre that I am, I simply say DUH!  I mean REALLY?  How many individuals do you know, who are constantly whining and complaining, nary a laugh to be found, and you would describe them as a happy, joyful individual?  I always want to ask the question, “What's 'a matter “EEYORE?”  ”Lost your tail again?”  Laughing brings beauty to your face, joy to your eyes,  a wellspring of happiness from within.  I would rather laugh and have greater happiness, than have someone ask me, “MA'AM, would you like some cheese with that 'WHINE'?”

3) Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones”!  BINGO... give laughter the million dollar prize!  I find at my most stressful moments, the best thing to do is breathe, say a prayer, and then find something joyful to focus on! A joke, a funny picture, another phone call to a CRAZY friend, (again, you DO know who I am talking about!)  I had a situation this week where I did not get a pertinent message about the  cancellation of  a job, so I drove all the way to the destination (an hour and a half away), promptly went into panic mode when I discovered NO one else was there, and naturally assumed I was in the wrong place!  So, I sat in my car for a half hour, breathing into a paper bag,  prayed, found the phone number I needed,  got the info I needed, that I would have loved to have had BEFORE I started my drive (giggle), and then LAUGHED.  I was honestly very thankful that I had just had a lovely peaceful drive, I had listened to great uplifting music, I had a BEAUTIFUL drive with much to look at, thanks to the time change...and all my stress started to turn around.  I called one of my CRAZY friends who shall remain nameless, love you Nicole! Hee hee.  We laughed and then as I was driving through Gulf Breeze, I saw a 'carnival' with a beautiful Ferris wheel!  I stopped my car (my husband did ask to clarify that point) and snapped a few shots.  SO YOU SEE, what I would have missed without making an unnecessary trip.  I laughed and no longer felt the stress that I was feeling when I thought I was going nutty at being at the wrong place for a job!

4) “Internal Workout: A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders, leaving muscles more relaxed afterward. It even provides a good workout for the heart.” I like this laughter benefit. Today I am going to work on my 6 pack abs! YES, at this moment I am laughing! Who in their right mind would want to exercise their diaphragm and abs, and shoulders, by straining, stretching and heaven forbid 'glistening' while lifting weight and doing sit ups? I know the junk in my trunk is not benefiting from laughter, which is why I plan on taking a walk on this gorgeous spring day, but an 'internal workout', followed by a sense of relaxation is my kind of workout. I shall find things to laugh about as I walk, again passers by may wonder... but when they see my 6 pack abs, they will join in the laughter!

I am thankful that I have been blessed with a joyful spirit and a propensity toward laughter. I found a great quote online yesterday: "Don't whine - laugh." ~ Roy Castle. Short, sweet, and too the point! Life is TOO short to walk around like an Eeyore- and here is a great Eeyore quote:“

"It's snowing still," said Eeyore gloomily. “And freezing. However, we haven't had an earthquake lately."

I would I rather be a Tigger, who sings: 

“A wonderful thing is a Tigger; A Tigger's a wonderful thing. Their tops are made out of rubber, their bottoms are made out of spring They're bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun, The most wonderful thing about Tiggers is: I'm the only one!” Yes, I would rather be 'Tiggerish” and that is how I would like to be remembered! Fun, full of laughter, and bringing joy to those around me. So if you are in town today, and you see me driving alone in my car, LAUGHING maniacally, call me CRAZY, but know that I am: stress free, pain free, happier than a  pig in a mud puddle, and working on my 6 pack abs.  Why don't you join me in my effort to make the world go round on laughter!   Love, Joy, Peace, and MUCH Laughter, Patti

If this DOES NOT MAKE YOU LAUGH, I am worried! ; )

Credit to goes to the following article for the benefits of laughter: http://stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/laughter.htm