Living is what we do daily and how we do it greatly impacts everyone around us.
Have you ever noticed that laughter is contagious? Think about it – name one time that regardless of the circumstances you were unable to at least smile inside over the deep, real, engaging laughter of someone truly happy about something. And you can tell – a fake laugh never makes it to the eyes. For an example of truly happy laughter watch a child abandon themselves to it.
Their eyes light up, they grab their tummy, and they roll with it. The entire body gets involved in true laughter. And with cheeks hurting, sides splitting, and breath coming in short gasps – you feel a release inside. A welling up of happiness, satisfaction, and peace.
They say laughter is the best medicine and in some cases they’re right. Laughter allows our body to produce chemicals that make us feel better. The better we feel the more we laugh… the more of the chemicals our brain produces, and the better we feel… it’s an amazingly beautiful circle of life – that most of us pass up in lieu of more important things.
School, work, chores, home, bills, children, responsibilities. These things all take a toll on our ability to laugh freely and with abandon. Or at least we generally give them the power to do so. Have you ever opened a bill and started laughing? No, not many people do – unless it’s the sarcastic “they really think I have that kind of money” type of laugh.
No, adults tend to have more and more on their plates to prevent that whole-hearted laughter from pressing in and making them feel better.
Without laughter this no real living. Without true living there is no real love.
We must learn to embrace this life with laughter. Find the humor in the small things and let yourself get carried away with it from time to time. It won’t hurt – I promise… well… maybe just a little soreness in the cheeks from smiling and in the ribs from laughing… but it’s a good pain – and the great feelings you get are worth it.
Want an even better feeling? Lose it with your kids! Show them how to laugh with such utter abandon that you literally roll on the floor laughing out loud. They’ll enjoy it, and I promise – so will you!
What makes you laugh out loud?
Set in My Ways 