***** DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. I AM A WELL READ, CURIOUS PERSON WHO IS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE FOUND THINGS THAT WORK FOR ME AND BENEFIT MY OVERALL HEALTH. I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR OWN HEALTH. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ARE USELESS, BUT I DO BELIEVE AMERICANS HAVE BECOME TOO DEPENDENT ON THEM. EVERYBODY NEEDS HELP AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN THEIR LIVES, HOWEVER. SO, IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, OR ANY OTHER MENTAL ISSUE, PLEASE GO TALK TO SOMEBODY. THERE’S NO SHAME IN DOING WHAT’S BEST FOR YOU!!! *****
A patient walks into a clinic, terribly anxious.
Patient: Nurse! Please help me! I am shrinking. I am losing an inch of height every few minutes!
Nurse: Sorry, the team is on their way to an emergency. You’re just going to have to be a little patient
Patient: Doctor, doctor! My son just swallowed a roll of film!
Doctor: Don’t worry. He’ll be fine. Let’s just wait and see what develops.
Studies show that women laugh more often than men. Scientists believe this can be attributed to women simply observing men.
Richard Pryor. Robin Williams. Bill Burr. Eddie Murphy. George Carlin. Dave Chappelle. I owe so much to this Mount Rushmore of stand-up comedians. They have done more for my health than any doctor, psychologist, or medication ever could. Although not stand-up comedians, the creators of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia & South Park are in the same league as the gentlemen listed above. I’m so happy to see all these guys thriving even in the ultra-sensitive, “I’m so butthurt” climate we find ourselves in. Comedians (especially these days) are some of the bravest performers out there. They are not afraid to say what most people are thinking, and I really admire that. Let’s dive a little deeper into the ways laughter make you a better person.
Laughter equals joy. Laughter equals happiness. Laughter equals love. Laughter takes our spirit to the far recesses of the known universe and back. It is one of the most powerful forces known to man. Laughter & music should be added to the list of universal forces (along with gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear force, and strong nuclear force). I have concluded in the past few years that laughter is by far my favorite thing about life. There is nothing more fulfilling than a hearty laugh with good friends.
Laughter truly is a glorious retreat. In that magical moment, nothing else matters. Problems, inhibitions, bias, and negativity simply cease to exist. It brings people of all kinds together. It truly is a universal language that bonds us to each other. The atmosphere created by people laughing together can be relaxing to the point of intoxication. That feeling should be appreciated and praised. Research has found both short and long-term benefits: laughter can increase oxygen to the heart, lungs and muscles, increase the endorphins that are released by your brain, improve your mood and reduce physical pain1.
As you can see from the image above, laughter helps to release all the “happiness” neurotransmitters in our brains. That’s right, you carry around medicine in your own head that you can release when you laugh! A good dose of laughter can boost the immune system, improve respiration, increase the number of activated natural virus killing cells, stimulate circulation, reduce stress-related hormones, raise heart rate, exercise & relax muscles, induce positive emotional states, and enhance mental functioning2.
My approach to health is threefold, a trinity if you will. The mind, body, and soul are one in the same. So, one must take care of the mental, the physical, and the spiritual aspects of their life in order to be healthy. When you laugh alone, there are definite mental & physical benefits. When you laugh with other people, that third leg of the health trinity (spiritual) is satiated. I implore you to go to more stand-up comedy shows or watch them with your family and friends. If you are not lucky enough to have family and friends, find a place that offers “laughter yoga.”
Laughter yoga is something I was not aware of until I started researching for this article. Check out the quick YouTube video I posted below to get a better idea of what laughter yoga is. If you cannot find a laughter yoga class locally, click here for a FREE laughter yoga zoom class!
The jokes at the beginning of this article & the one below I found on this website. The joke below really resonated with me and sums up the Bay Flavor mentality. One of my biggest fears is reaching the end of my life and saying to myself, “I should have done this,” or “I should have done that.” The beauty of this fear is that it helps melt away maladaptive fears that can keep one from really enjoying life. I also believe the joke speaks to the yin & yang of life and the importance of moderation. Please share your thoughts on the jokes and if you have any of your own in the comments section below. Take a bite out of life & savor the Bay Flavor!
An elderly man goes in to his clinic for a checkup. After examining him and reviewing his labs, his clinician tells him: “Everything is fine, especially for your age.”
“For my age,” asks the patient. “I am only 70. Do you think I can make it to 80?”
“Well,” said the clinician, “do you drink or smoke?”
“No”, said the man.
“Do you eat fatty meat or sweets?”
“No,” the patient replied. “I am very cautious about my diet.”
“Do you engage in any high-risk behaviors like skiing or sky-diving?”
“Of course not! I always play it safe.”
The clinician thought a moment. “Well, then why in the world would you want to live to be 80?”
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