Laughter Can Be the Best Medicine

Sometimes I spend too much time worrying, crying, yelling, or sleeping to take time to laugh. Yet laughter can be the best medicine. Remember Robin Williams in the movie Patch Adams? It was about a real-life doctor who used humor to heal his patients. I think some doctors I've met along my journey could learn a thing or two from him. But that’s a topic for another time.

Research studies have shown that laughter can have a positive effect on one’s health. In a nutshell, laughter increases the bodies “feel-good” hormones much like exercise, but much easier to do!

Here’s a short list of what makes me laugh:

#1 The silly antics of my kids (some intentional, some not) Like when my son once wore two pairs of underwear to his grandma’s house for a sleepover, or when my daughter counted “one . . . two . . . ten” while playing hide and seek. Sometimes they make funny faces like all kids do, or they crack me up without even knowing what is so funny. When I hear them giggle, laugh, and sometimes even snort – it makes me feel happy, because they are happy.

My kids bust out into laughter when a person loudly blows his nose in public. I'm not sure why, but this is really, really funny to them. My husband thinks this is hysterical as well. It must be because he is a little kid trapped in an adult body.

#2 The goofiness of my husband (sometimes intentional, sometimes not) Like when he uses a poor British accent to imitate the voice of Charlie from the cartoon, “Charlie and Lola” or when he honks and waves at people that we pass by while traveling down a country road. Most people wave back, how funny is that?

Often, my husband makes me laugh in a “shake your head” sort of way – as in why did you just do, say, or think that? Much to my dismay, he also has the annoying habit of laughing at inappropriate times like when we are having an argument or when he whispers something silly to me during church. Despite all that, he does make me laugh nonetheless, which is a “good thing” as Martha Stewart would say.

All three of them can be quite the comedians - keeping me laughing even at times when I just don’t feel like it. Think about what makes you giggle, chuckle, smirk, or laugh so hard you just can’t stop. Maybe it’s a one-liner from your favorite TV sitcom or movie, or an inside joke shared with a friend. I recently re-connected with an old high school friend via Facebook. His goofy postings and emails always make my day a little bit brighter.

So thank you hubby, kids, friends, and others who make me laugh and smile because . . .

“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” e.e. cummings.

My Love/Hate Relationship with SNOW!

Much to my dismay, winter is off to a blustery start this week with the arrival of the flurry white stuff, cold temperatures, and a pair of shiny new snow boots for my daughter - just in the nick of time (whew!)

I have never been much of a winter enthusiast despite living in the Midwest for all of my life. Sure I played in the snow as a little kid - making snow angels and forts, sledding with friends, or building snowmen with my sisters. But as soon as a little bit of snow or ice made its way into that tiny space on my wrist between my mitten and my coat, I was done for the day! Time for hot cocoa and cookies.

So in honor of this first snowfall of the season, I will share with you what I love and hate about SNOW:

Love: How pretty the snow looks falling down, and how it blankets the bare tree branches and bushes.
Hate: How yucky the snow looks on the side of the road all gray, black and slushy after rush-hour traffic.

Love: When my children shout with excitement "It's snowing, it's snowing!" Then, stuff themselves into snow pants, coats, boots, hats, and mittens to go outside to play for hours.
Hate: Stuffing myself into layers of clothing, a coat, a hat, a scarf, and boots to drive in the ugly, gray slushy stuff just to run a short errand.

Love: The crunch crunch sound your boots make on the fresh fallen snow.
Hate: I don't get to hear that crunch crunch sound too much these days because my illness keeps inside during much of the winter.

Love: When daddy takes the kids out sledding!
Hate: That I miss out on all the snow-frolicking fun because it's too cold and windy for me to breathe, I can't climb up a hill, and I wouldn't be able to move due to all the layers I would need to wear just to keep warm - kind of like Ralphie's brother in the movie The Christmas Story.

But at least I can make cookies and hot cocoa for the kids when they come inside with their cheeks all rosy and bright.

Absolutely love: This photo of my kids in the snow from a few years back . . .


2006