Did you know that April is National Humor Month? Laughing not only makes us feel good, but it can also strengthen your immune system, increase your energy and help protect you from the harmful effects of stress.
Live by this credo: have a little laugh at life and look around you for happiness instead of sadness. Laughter has always brought me out of unhappy situations. – Red Skelton
Humor can help you get through difficult times and can help diffuse situations before they get worse. According to The Mayo Clinic humor and laughter has several short and long term benefits.
- Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can impact 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.
Everyone laughs and finds humor in different things. My husband laughs hysterically at things that I barely crack a smile at. In my defense though, his sense of humor is like a 12-year-old boy’s. But then there are times that we start talking about something and next thing you know one of us says something and we can’t stop laughing.
“I realize that humor isn’t for everyone. It’s only for people who want to have fun, enjoy life, and feel alive” – Anne Wilson Schaef
There’s one thing that I know everyone will laugh at (or laugh with) and that’s a laughing baby. Check this out and tell me you didn’t laugh!
“If you could choose one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor “.-Β Jennifer Jones
How to add more humor to your life:
- Watch a funny movie at home.
- Go to a comedy club.
- Read the Sunday comics.
- Spend time with people that have a sense of humor.
- Share a good joke or a funny story.
- Browse the ‘Humor’ section of a local bookstore
- Host game night with friends.
- Play with your pet.
- Be silly with your kids.
- Make time for fun activities (e.g. bowling, miniature golfing, karaoke).
Laughter is an instant vacation. – Milton Berle
I love joining in with my kids, and getting silly! Laughter really is the best medicine π
Laughter is indeed the best medicine. Hubby loves to turn on a comedy when any of us are sick or just feeling down. It really works at making us feel a little better.
I had no idea it had it’s own month!
I always think that you just have to find the humor in all situations!! We’d all be pretty miserable if we couldn’t!!
I love that you posted something that is free and people sometimes don’t realize the best things in life are usually free.
Isn’t ironic, that when I’m feeling my worst, I always reach for the comedy movies. Because it really does give a literal physical change in your body when you laugh. It’s the perfect medicine.
You got that right Amber. π
LOVE this!! I think we all need to take the time to just laugh. Love that video of the baby too! Babies have the best laugh ever!
OMG – I know, right! We watched that video three times in a row because it was soooooo adorable!!
We all need more humor in our lives, good to know that it is good for our immune system too!! π
Absolutely Erin – I agree!!! π
I seriously could NOT imagine a life without laughter. It’s like air to me!
You have a great outlook on life Liz. π
I had no idea that laughing can improve your immune system. How neat!
I thought so also! π
I never knew that April was national humor month..that is awesome..i have 4 kids in which give me good entertainment on a daily basis LOL really helps with the winter/spring blues from day to day
lol – I’m sure your kids keep you happy – mine do the funniest things also.
I love that laughter has all these benefits! I’m going to laugh more today!
Thanks for stopping by Jeanette!