Daily Intent

Do you find yourself open to a deep, hearty laugh?  Do you have a readiness to laugh daily?  Like my niece in this video?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKNBifT9Gok

Why do we lose the art form as we grow older?  Does growing up and becoming “more responsible” and “serious” really mean we have to give up most of our daily laughter?  Does it mean that we lose contact with our deep hearty laugh, leaving us to snicker from time to time?

You see an average baby laughs around 300 times a day compared to an average adult, who laughs around 20 times a day.  This, of course, depends on one’s personality and with whom one hangs out.  But 1/15th the amount of laughter as a result of growing older?

What happened to our ability to chortle?

Chortle – “laughter, gleeful chuckle, chuckling and snorting. Uusally designated as a description of a weird laugh, but a chortle can be a laugh you make when you REALLY enjoy something.”

Let’s REALLY enjoy things in 2012.

Let’s all work to find a bit more readiness for laughter.  Let’s bring laughter back.And let’s not just find the slight chuckle and fake laugh that most of us do from time to time and allow ourselves the privilege of deep, uncontrollable laughter.  Let’s be like that friend that always seems to laugh so easily.

We don’t even need to share in a common language to laugh with each other.  While living in Spain I lived with a wonderful family.  The father was a bigger man and had a great readiness for jokes and laughter.  The Bochsler clan sits down at the table along with my Spanish father’s twin and his family.  So there are 3 families sitting at the table.  The jokes begin to roll between the twin Spanish brothers of 50 years old.  The brothers are in deep laughter.  My biological family has no clue what is being said.  I have no clue half the words they are saying.  But we all fell in a fit of laughter…the entire meal.

Your life is better when you are laughing.  You are happy.  Others are most often pulled into the happiness.

Because it is infectious.  Watch this YouTube.  People laughing watching others laugh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p32OC97aNqc 

Are you laughing?  Isn’t it funny to watch and listen to others laugh?

Laughter is a part of us, so why do we work so hard to suppress it?  When was the last time you were weak with laughter?And since most of us have a resolution in 2012 to be healthier, the greatness news of all, laughter is healthy for us.

Here’s a quick list of 10 reasons laughter is excellent for your health.

1. It leads to the dilation of the inner linings of our blood vessels and increases blood flow.

2. It causes the reduction of inflammation and decreased platelet aggregation.

3. It is an obvious stress reliever.

4. It leads to a heightened level of endorphins in our system, increasing pain tolerance.

5. It offers us a stronger immune system through greater levels of antibody-producing cells and more effective T-cells (combat damage and infection).

6. It can be a coping mechanism for when we are deeply angry, sad or upset.

7. There is a nice relaxation of tension after we laugh.

8. Kids that see clowns in the hospital have shorter stays in the hospital.  Did they find humor in the clown or run away from him/her?

9. It is a social connector as it is a sign of trust.

10. It leads to greater blood flow to internal organs through the repeated short, strong contractions of our thoracic wall, abdomen and diaphragm.

11. And the bonus – it boosts endurance and pleasurable sensations.

If laughter forges social bonds, why are we so restrictive to ourselves in our relationships and work place?  Why are we so restrictive to our kids and their play?

What are you waiting for?  Start with a slight chuckle, but be prepared and free to find that joyful belly laughter that which Santa Claus just reminded you.

Make this part of your resolution in 2012.

How so?

There are hundreds of ways to do so, but here is my quick brainstorm.  What we are going for is the full on deep laughter that your uncle seems to have perfected.A laughter that is pure.

11 ways to increase your laughter and free your mind/body of rigidity and/or stress: (Yes, drug free.)

1. Watch Movies/TV shows that are truly hilarious to you - if they are mildly funny, you might find yourself more annoyed and frustrated than relaxed and enjoyable.  Quite elementary, but terribly funny, Family Guy is one of my favorites.  Another good one, and hilariously nerdy, is The Big Bang Theory.

2. Laugh with your friends - Your friends aren’t funny?  Find some that are.  You don’t need to replace your old friends, but be intentional about regularly hanging out with the full-of-laughter friends.  Overtime they will teach you how to be more laugh ready.  Moreover, these instances of laughter will serve as building blocks for future episodes of laughter as you create inside jokes and memories of laughter that will have you laughing in the present.

3. Go to a comedy show - These are harder to find in smaller towns.  Perhaps it gives you a good reason to go into the “Big City”.  Be proactive about the humor you place into your life.  Even travel for it.

4. Find humor in your everyday - play with words and puns.  Look out for curious word structures that are humorous.  Laugh at frustrating situations in life.

5. Fake it - there are positive affects to faking it if you can’t find a full hearty laughter.  Over time you will find it.  In the meantime, it will make the suffering of some of the situations and health problems being battled much more manageable.

6. Tell Jokes and/or learn a few new jokes - telling a funny joke you know often solicits others into telling their own.  Laughter most often ensues, OR someone gets offended and all walk off sheepishly.  It’s worth the risk!

7. Game night - perhaps a regular game night with family or friends could offer up a fun setting for laughter.  Seeing a friend mime-out Jim Carey or past Family Feud host Louie Armstrong is funny.

8. Be present - The Dalai Lama laughs quite readily.  His laugh is infectious.  “His face glows.  He laughs at himself, at the ways of the world, at the idea that violence can accomplish good in the world – but never at others.”  He is in the present.  Check out this quick clip of him laughing.  This is one of many.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rAKmWPlZ5A 

9. Hallmark - Go to your nearest Hallmark store and read the funny cards.  This is one my mother taught me.  When we were teenager it may have embarrassed us, but as we grew older we now greatly appreciate her love for the humorous cards and her free ability to laugh loudly whilst reading them.

10. Comics - Start your day off by reading the comics in the newspaper or online.  Family Circle has always been one of my favorites.

11. Read the Onion - http://www.theonion.com or visithttp://www.iwastesomuchtime.com

12. Listen to others laugh - Put this on in the background and see how your body responds.  Does your heart rate change?  Your mood?  What are your reactions.  99 Laughs Recorded -http://www.archive.org/details/99Laughs

As you head into the weekend, know it is in you.  The “Guinness Book” states one man holds the record for 3 hours straight of laughter – Belachew Girma, Ethiopian Laughter Therapist.  This may be a bit much, but how about trying it out for 30 seconds?

Isn’t it time to rediscover our chortle, giggle, guffaw, and snort?

Live and Be Well,

Jeff Bochsler
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