Recent travels have placed me in the presence of friends full of laughter. As a result, my spirit became light, my body – energized, and my heart – hope-filled. My journey became light in their midst.
The impact of humor and laughter grabbed me when Norman Cousins, former editor of Saturday Review, published Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by a Patient. He chronicled his recovery from an incurable illness through the intentional use of laughter. Amazing? Maybe not!
The benefits of laughter are listed in Simple Health: Easy and Inexpensive Things You Can Do to Improve Your Health by David Beibel and Harold Koenig. They include the following:
| PHYSICAL: | Laughter results in muscle relaxation, activation of the immune system, pain reduction, lowered blood pressure and cardiorespiratory exercise – to name a few | |
| PYSCHOLOGICAL: | Laughter lowers stress; dissolves anger, frustration and sadness; aids in relaxation | |
| SOCIOLOGICAL: | Laughter builds trust; unites families; enhances relationships |
No matter our circumstances, the Joy of the Lord can be ours and can be expressed not only in prayer and worship but also laughter.
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine. (Proverbs 17:22 KJV)
Join me in a belly laugh this week?
Sharing the journey with you,
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