Cullman Senior Fall 2020 | Page 26

“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” e.e. cummings or as learned behavior may have important implications in societies such as the U.S. where heart disease remains the number one killer.” Need inspiration to bring a bit of laughter into your life? Here are a few ideas from “Laughter Really is the Best Medicine” to get you started. - Tickle or be tickled. - Keep humor close at hand with comics, photos or films that make you chuckle. - Cultivate the habit of spending time with amusing friends and family. - See the humor in everyday life, human foibles and all. - Spend time with a young child -- laughter is contagious. - Join a local laughter yoga club. Of course, also know what isn’t funny. Don’t laugh at the expense of others. Some forms of humor aren’t appropriate. Use your best judgment to discern a good joke from a bad or hurtful one. With all the doom and gloom these days, it is important to offset the negativity with a chuckle here and there. A good dose of humor and happy fellowship will lighten life, improve the mind and relax the body. It may even make you healthier to boot. Sources for this article include: “Stress relief from laughter? Yes, no joke” Mayo Clinic. Retrieved on June12, 2014 from: http:// www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-relief “Laughter Really is the Best Medicine….”, Carolyn Wright, Natural News, August 25,2012. Retrieved on June 13, 2014 from: http://www.naturalnews.com/037669_laughter_medicine_blood_sugar.html American Psychological Society (2008, April 10). Anticipating a Laugh Reduces Our Stress Hormones. Berk LS, Felten DL, Tan SA, Bittman BB, Westengard J. Modulation of Neuroimmune Parameters During the Eustress of Humor-Associated Mirthful Laughter. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, March 2001. University of Michigan Health System (2008, May 6). Laugh Your Way To Wellness With Yoga Trend. Science Daily. “Laugh Your Way to Health” Cindie Leonard, May 22, 2009. Retrieved on June 13, 2014 from: http://www.naturalnews.com/026311_laughter_humor_health.html 26 | FALL 2020 CULLMAN COUNTY SENIOR MAGAZINE