What Makes You Laugh?

Did you ever notice that kids laugh often and easily? Do something silly, like make a funny face, and the giggling begins. Now, have you also noticed that as age increases laughter decreases? It's true.

The average preschooler laughs or smiles 400 times a day. That number drops to only 15 times a day by the time people reach age 35, according to Mary Rue Foster, R.N. and host to the website, Workplace Issues. What are some other interesting facts about laughter? Here goes:

1. People smile only 35 percent as much as they think they do?

2. Laughter releases endorphins, a chemical 10 times more powerful than the pain-relieving drug morphine, into the body with the same exhilarating effect as doing strenuous exercise.

3. Every time you have a good hearty laugh, you burn up 3 1/2 calories.

4. Laughing increases oxygen intake, thereby replenishing and invigorating cells? It also increases the pain threshold, boosts immunity, and relieves stress.


The conclusion is we adults need to kick back and laugh more. All those benefits for something as simple and fun as laughing. How do we go about doing that? Seems like an easy questions, but I had to think about it for a little while. Here's what I came up with.    

• Funny Friends - Think about some of your friends who tickle your funny bone. Make sure to hang out with them as often as you can. Even thinking about these folks can bring on a chuckle, at least for me.  
• Comedians and Other Funny Media Personalities - Some people who earn their living by making others laugh are true masters. Favorites of mine include Bill Cosby, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Gildna Radner, George Carlin, just to name a few. With these comics, a laugh is just a DVD away. Just look at this face and see if initiates a spark of a laugh:

Bill Cosby

• Funny animal pictures - Keep a file of your favorites somewhere on your computer, preferably your desktop, for a quick laugh. Check this one out:     

• Situations - Last night I went to a hockey game in Glens Falls, NY. The team's mascot is a giant woodchuck, or maybe it's a beaver. At one point the costumed whatever gyrated to We Will Rock You while kids gathered around trying to imitate him/her/it (couldn't tell). It may not sound that funny, but I found it to be hysterical. I often laugh at these spontaneous moments that surprise me in my day to day life and I'm going to be on the lookout for more.
• Irony - I laugh at things that really aren't funny, but when spoofed are highly amusing. Tina Fey and Jon Stewart are brilliant at this. Don't know if any of you have tuned into the TV show, The Onion, but whenever I do, their parodies crack me up. Here's one called, Congress Forgets How to Pass A Law:  

Take a minute to share what makes you laugh. The more ideas the better. After all, we could all use a little laughter in our lives. Hope you found a bit here. Kick Back Book: Humor is not easy to pull off in writing, especially fiction, but Marian Keyes manages to do just that in her novel, The Other Side of the Story. If you want a light read, with vivid characters and lots of laughs that revolves around the publishing world, read this.

Kick Back Song:

From one of my favorite movies, Mary Poppins, I Love to Laugh. Sit back and enjoy.

A Little Something Extra:

"The human race has only one really effective weapon, and that is laughter. The moment it arises, all our hardnesses yield, all our irritations and resentments slip away and a sunny spirit takes their place." -- Mark Twain

The Elevator Ride

"This has to be the slowest elevator in the world," a bearded man said as he stepped onto the people lift in the grand hotel where I'm staying.

"Really?" I said as I checked my cell phone. It was 9:59.

"Uh Huh," said the bearded man shaking his head and clicking his tongue.

The elevator said, "Ding."

I had reached my destination on the 30th floor. I checked my cell phone. It was 9:59. The slowest elevator in the world? I almost said, "Enjoy the ride," but instead just smiled and walked away. 

A Positive Attitude and Health

In the book, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, we learn about Louie Zamparini, a man who miraculously cheated death more than once. He survived for 48 days on a raft in the Pacific Ocean after his plane went down during World War II. He then suffered from hunger, beatings and deplorable conditions as a prisoner of war in Japan and he overcame post traumatic stress syndrome and alcoholism when he finally returned to the U.S. In Unbroken, Hillenbrand discusses Louie's positive attitude and how it helped him endure monumental challenges. The medical world concurs with her consensus that positive thinking can really contribute to survival, keep you healthier, increase longevity and make you successful at whatever you choose to do. How do we get there?

The AARP has listed six ways that will automatically improve your attitude. In a nutshell, they are:

• Get a pet
• Laugh
• Help Others
• Listen to Music 
• Spend time in Nature
• Tai Chai (Yes. I did say Tai Chai.)   

The good news is there are simple ways to incorporate all of these into our lives, although I'm not so sure about Tai Chai. I think it's pretty complex. We'll explore these life enhancers over the next few weeks.
   
You may be wondering whatever happened to Louie Zamparini. He's 94, lives in Southern California and refuses to concede much to old age according to the Wall Street Journal. He still works a couple of hours each day in the yard of his Hollywood Hills home, bagging leaves, climbing stairs and, on occasion, trimming trees with a chainsaw. His outlook is reported to be upbeat, even rambunctious.

"I have a cheerful countenance at all times," Zamparini says. "When you have a good attitude your immune system is fortified."

I included this book trailer on an earlier post, but it's worth repeating:

Stop Whining!

New Year's Eve -- a night to kick back and enjoy. Bring on the new and say farewell to the old. Celebrations can range from reading a book peacefully at home to tooting a party horn on a dance floor in Vegas. This year my husband and I chose dinner at a restaurant followed by a pay per view movie in the comfort of our living room -- quiet and relaxing.

Sounded great to me until we arrived at the restaurant. Naturally it was busy because of the festive holiday. I expected a wait even with reservations and there were all kinds of ways to keep busy -- munching on pretzels at the bar, gazing at the decorations, listening to the music and one of my all time favorites, people watching. Unfortunately, the woman who stood behind me didn't see it that way.

She felt the need to let everyone within earshot know that her feet hurt from standing so long. She was convinced a party who came in after her was seated before her. Not knowing what to do about this catastrophe, she decided to drone on about it. Then she went on about a rumor she heard that the food quality at this dining establishment had gone down hill. There's more, but I think you get the idea. I was so relieved when we were seated far away from this high pitched whine. I feared that my welcome into the new year might go like this (from The Whiners on Saturday Night Live):

   
Some people are trapped in a downward spiral of negativity. The complaining starts and doesn't stop. The good news is it only takes a moment to turn it around. Just Google: http://BeingPositive.net for great suggestions.

What works best for me?

Number one, taking a minute everyday to be thankful for the things I could take for granted. Things like health, a job, a home, food. It immediately puts me in a positive mood. When something minor happens, like waiting in the checkout line at the grocery store while the person in front of me searches for a credit card, it doesn't seem to matter. It's such a small inconvenience compared to real problems.

What really makes me kick back and be grateful however, is when I see someone who has a major issue and defies it. A person who has so many reasons to be downtrodden, but isn't. Stephen Hawking reminded me of this when I read an article about his 70th birthday celebration this past week. Hawking was diagnosed with motor neuron disease at 21 and was given only a few years to live. So much for that prognosis. During the 49 years since then, Hawking has spent his life crippled in a wheelchair and able to speak only through a computer. Despite this, the theoretical physicist's quest for the secrets of the universe has made him one of the most famous scientists in the world. For anyone who doesn't know about Stephen Hawking, watch:

When asked about his disability, Hawking said, "The human race is so puny compared to the universe that being disabled is not of much cosmic significance."

That's what I call positive thinking.

Happy Birthday Stephen Hawking!

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/technology/stephen-hawking-defies-science-to-celebrate-70th-birthday/story-e6frfro0-1226238616210#ixzz1imsr2gq5

Do What You Love

Be positive. Do what you love. I came upon this video and had to share it with you. Just do it!!!

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