Laughter

 

Laughter

1. To express certain emotions, especially mirth or delight, by a series of spontaneous, usually un-articulated sounds often accompanied by corresponding facial and bodily movements.

2. To show or feel amusement or good humor.

 

 

I love to laugh.  I don't think I know anybody that doesn't.  It brings a little light into your soul.  It makes you feel alive.  It just, makes you happy.  I went to a surprise birthday party for a friend last night, and I laughed more than I've done in a while, and it felt sooo good! Think I went to bed with a smile on my face, and I woke up with it still firmly in place.

 

A famous quote reads:  "a day without laughter is a wasted day."  Apparently, the average person laughs 15 times a day.  To be honest, some days I don't think I reach that average.  I want to, but sitting in an office on my own, with no one to talk too, I can only really sit and laugh at myself, which in itself isn't that hard...but at the same time a bit worrying. ;-)

 

It fascinates me what people laugh at.  For instance, I am not one of those people that will laugh at you when you fall over, or hurt yourself.  I laugh at jokes.  Good and bad ones. 

 

Here are a few facts about laughter/laughing:

• 13 muscles are used to smile, but 47 are required for frowning. You have to smile nearly a quarter of a million times to make 1 wrinkle.
• Laughter lowers the levels of cortisol in the body. Cortisol suppresses the immune system. Lowering these levels enhances the work of the immune system and may prevent disease.
• You can stimulate your heart and lungs, elevate your blood pressure and improve breathing capacity by laughing.
• In terms of exercise, you can get the same benefits from laughing 100 times a day, as you can from 10 minutes of rowing.
• 15 minutes of laughter equals the benefit of 2 hours sleep.
• One good belly laugh burns off 3 1/2 calories.
• Laughing for 15 seconds adds 2 days to your life span.
• It just makes you feel good!

People smile only 35% as much as they think they do. I think that's sad.  I often think what do people think of me when they look at me, in terms of a friendly face.  I strive to be a "happy face" :-) 

Smile a while, and give you face a rest :)

Here's to laughing more!

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