This Is Funny

I’m sitting here, wracking my brain for something useful to talk about, and all I can do is just laugh while listening to Jim Gaffigan Radio on Pandora. Usually I listen to Calm Meditation Radio when I’m doing a blog post or a newsletter, but I’ve been so serious in my life these last few months. And I realized something: I don’t laugh enough in my life. Do you?

My 13 year old son was sitting in church a few weeks ago, and a pretty 13 year old girl (Lexi Walker, actually. YouTube her—she’s fabulous!) was singing for the congregation. Since we sat 3 rows from the front, we had a great view. And since she’s confident and claims her gifts and talents, she was looking people right in the face. My son told me afterward that when she looked at him, his mind went blank and he started fumbling around with his books, trying to find something besides her to look at.

It reminded me of the movie “Inside Out”, right at the end when Rylie is talking to a boy her age, and the camera flashes to his mind and all his emotions are running out of control screaming, “Girl! Girl! GIRL!”

Yep. That was my son Trevin in that moment.

On Pandora Radio Jim Gaffigan is doing a bit on Southern food. This is what he says about chicken and waffles:

“What should we serve with this chicken? French fries? No, we should serve something elegant. Waffles!”

(He and Brian Reagan are my favorite comics, mostly because I don’t have to do too much censoring of their material when my children are around.)

I recently read an article about the benefits of laughter and wanted to share some of that with you:

Stress relief from laughter

A good sense of humor can’t cure all ailments, but data are mounting about the positive things laughter can do.

Short-term benefits

A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn’t just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. Laughter can:

• Stimulate many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
• Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response and increases your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
• Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

Long-term effects

Laughter isn’t just a quick pick-me-up, though. It’s also good for you over the long haul.

Laughter may:

• Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.
• Relieve pain. Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers. Laughter may also break the pain-spasm cycle common to some muscle disorders.
• Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.
• Improve your mood. Many people experience depression, sometimes due to chronic illnesses. Laughter can help lessen your depression and anxiety and make you feel happier.

–from mayoclinic.org

So, what do you do to lighten yourself up when you’re feeling a bit bogged down?

Comment below so I can add to my repertoire!