How important is Laughter?

Nothing is more personal than your smile and your laughter. They are your personal signature and are totally unique to you.

Babies start laughing when they are 10 - 12 weeks old. When they laugh their whole body moves and bounces. Everything in their small bodies is engaged in a laughter that is innocent, pure and contagious.

Children at the age of 5 laugh on the average 400 times a day. Unfortunately that greatly diminishes as they get older. Adults over the age of 30 laugh on the average only 4 - 6 times a day.

If people only realized how good laughter is for them. It is a very powerful force that affects the whole body. Breath released during a hearty laugh has been measured as fast as 170 miles per hour.

The physical benefits of laughter are phenomenal. Laughter stimulates the brain, the nervous system, the respiratory system, the hormonal system, and the body's muscles.

In addition, it lowers blood pressure, lightens depression, strengthens the immune system and reduces stress.

For us to stay healthy, we need to release build-up tensions. Many people release these tensions by doing Yoga, Tai Chi, or Meditation. There is however a simpler way and that is laughter.

When we laugh, even just chuckle, the entire body works towards improving your health and well-being.

Laughter is also a pain reliever, as it triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural pain killers which provide a temporary distraction from the pain. For more information on this, visit the 'Norman Cousins' page on my website http://www.humor-laughter.com.

Medical professionals have recognized the powers and benefits of laughter and are starting to introduce humor in the treatment of patients.

Laughing is totally natural:

• it is organic
• naturally sweet
• 100% wholesome
• has no chemicals
• no preservatives
• no artificial additives
• you don't require batteries
• it is low in energy consumption
• high in body energy gain
• it is non-fattening
• it is non-polluting
• free of cholesterol
• free of trans-fat and saturated fat
• you don't have to join an expensive health club and wear ridiculous Spandex outfits
• you can practice it 24/7
• and there is absolutely no cost

How much better can it get?

To stay informed about the countless benefits of humor and laughter, visit my website http://www.humor-laughter.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter 'The Humormeister's Forum' and receive a free e-book 'Manage your stress with humor and laughter.'

How happiness is slipping away from us

"Happiness comes from the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed" - Storm Jameson

Remember the nursery rhyme - 'The more we get together the happier we are?' It would appear that society is going in the opposite direction. A recent study found that people spend 34% of time by themselves. Time spent with family and friends dropped 58%

• We are socializing less - no time, no inclination
• We are more stressed - with work and personal responsibilities
• We are less active physically - everything is available at the press of a button - in our kitchens, entertainment areas etc.

Perhaps this is also the cause for the higher degree of stress in society, which is showing up with some very negative results, and which is aggravated by having two spouses working, and less time available for the children.

All this flies in the face of the perception that money and conveniences can buy happiness. More than wealth, income and conveniences is the need for social interaction, because we are a social species.

With the lesser social interaction, we also face concerns of less personal safety, security and trust. All pointing to the need for more social interaction, sharing and consulting with others, and making a break from the rut and routine we are in.

• We need to socialize more! - that is face to face instead of, or in addition to the Internet social networking.
• We need to generate more humor and laughter!
• We need to enjoy life instead of enduring it!

Stay informed about the countless benefits of humor and laughter. Sign up for the monthly newsletter 'The Humormeister's Forum' on www.humor-laughter and receive a FREE e-book
'Manage your Stress with Humor and Laughter.'

R