Laughter is a great mood elevator. Being able to laugh, especially at myself, turns things that could be discouraging into something more positive. For example, one of the challenges for some of us is the faltering of our short-term memory and the funny things we sometimes do as a result. These little faux pas can give you some great “conversation starters,” and keep you humble at the same time.
Some of the things I do sometimes are quite humorous, such as picking up something, intending to take it into the other room, but then getting there and wondering what happened to it. Then returning to the other room only to realize that I had picked it up, gotten distracted by something else and put it down in the same spot instead of bringing it into the next room. Or, have you ever been looking all around for your phone when it was in your hand? I have!
Occasionally I can forget whether my glasses are on my face or not, or where I just put down my pen, or whether I sent that file off a minute ago or not.
Laughter is a great stress releaser. Laughter is also good for your health. It relaxes the whole body. A good hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to forty-five minutes afterwards. Laughter boosts the immune system. The Mayo Clinic says, “When it comes to relieving stress, more giggles and guffaws are just what the doctor ordered. Here’s why: whether you’re guffawing at a sitcom on TV or quietly giggling at a newspaper cartoon, laughter does you good. Laughter is a great form of stress relief, and that’s no joke. … 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, activate and relieve your stress response, soothe tension, and more.” (Maria Fountain 1946 -- )
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