Our friend, Laughter! YES!

"I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person."

- Audrey Hepburn

So how do we play? By saying YES to more things and doing things that allow our brain to seek those happy and joyful chemicals and build those "never going to forget memories," no matter how big or small. I'm not saying you have to jump on a plane, but switch it up. Read your book in a different room-- it might make you enjoy it more (Parischa, The Happiness Equation) ITS SCIENCE that isn't the kind we can't understand. Funny and laughter are subjective to one's perspective, but let's not be mean and hurt people's feelings. That's just never cool!

DID YOU KNOW THAT LAUGHTER HAS THIS MANY HEALTH BENEFITS?

Stress relief from laughter

A good sense of humor can't cure all ailments, but data are mounting about the positive things laughter can do.

Short-term benefitsA good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. Laughter can:

• Stimulate many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
• Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response and increases your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
• Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

Long-term effects

Laughter isn't just a quick pick-me-up, though. It's also good for you over the long haul. Laughter may:

• Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.
• Relieve pain. Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers. Laughter may also break the pain-spasm cycle common to some muscle disorders.
• Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.
• Improve your mood. Many people experience depression, sometimes due to chronic illnesses. Laughter can help lessen your depression and anxiety and make you feel happier.

-The Mayo Clinic 

Feeling rundown? Try laughing more. Some researchers think laughter just might be the best medicine, helping you feel better and putting that spring back in your step.

"I believe that if people can get more laughter in their lives, they are a lot better off," says Steve Wilson, MA, CSP, a psychologist and laugh therapist. "They might be healthier too."

Yet researchers aren't sure if it's actually the act of laughing that makes people feel better. A good sense of humor, a positive attitude, and the support of friends and family might play a role, too.

"The definitive research into the potential health benefits of laughter just hasn't been done yet," says Robert R. Provine, professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and author of Laughter: A Scientific Investigation.

But while we don't know for sure that laughter helps people feel better, it certainly isn't hurting.

Laughter Therapy: What Happens When We Laugh?

We change physiologically when we laugh. We stretch muscles throughout our face and body, our pulse and blood pressure go up, and we breathe faster, sending more oxygen to our tissues.

People who believe in the benefits of laughter say it can be like a mildworkout -- and may offer some of the same advantages as a workout.

"The effects of laughter and exercise are very similar," says Wilson. "Combining laughter and movement, like waving your arms, is a great way to boost your heart rate."

One pioneer in laughter research, William Fry, claimed it took ten minutes on a rowing machine for his heart rate to reach the level it would after just one minute of hearty laughter.

And laughter appears to burn calories, too. Maciej Buchowski, a researcher from Vanderbilt University, conducted a small study in which he measured the amount of calories expended in laughing. It turned out that 10-15 minutes of laughter burned 50 calories.

While the results are intriguing, don't be too hasty in ditching that treadmill. One piece of chocolate has about 50 calories; at the rate of 50 calories per hour, losing one pound would require about 12 hours of concentrated laughter!

...........WEB MD (HAHA THIS IS THE ONLY OK TIME AND SORT OF APPROPRIATE TIME- HAHA OTHERWISE I HIGHLY ADVISE ONE NOT TO USE THIS AS A SOURCE OF HEALTH CHECK, just saying.)

CALL ME weird but I love to try and make people laugh and I have come to personally recognize how I use it whenever I'm in a nervous situation. But I also use it whenever I want. For example, I once told my first boyfriend, now ex boyfriend, from 2007 (cause this all matters, want his name? Just kidding) THAT I had a dream about him- He threw my camera off a mountain. I SAID IT! Yep, I know. But, whatever. I mean, sure- if you make it weird, it's weird. I think it's hilarious I've been laughing out loud this entire time. 

If you're asking why, it's because I think it is so random and randomness/spontaneity/ switching it up is not a bad thing-Plus, it's true. Sometimes random humour is funny to people and it certainly is to me. My old roommate was notorious for it. Oh we laughed forever and ever.

We easily bought the not so great option for university gear and ended up with bright yellow/orange/"gold" pants with a purple bird on it. And to make matters worse we'd wear them with read hoodies that were 9 sizes too large and drive to Hamilton and back just to go a quaint, candy store in Cambridge and buy BIG LEAGUE CHEW---ITS SO GOOD! We played the ghostbusters, stealing sunshines, Eminem, Ashanti, fat Joe, Tina turner, Aretha Franklin.... IN MY CAR- SO an enclosed small space just rock out to tunes. ...

So get out there and laugh!

Love, 

Dorothy xo

#laughter

(I swear this isn't staged)