I heard an interesting statistic today. I’m not sure if it’s scientifically proven, but it sounds about right. I heard the average 6 year old child laughs about 150 times a day, while the average 65 year old adult laughs an average of only 3 times a day. I wonder how much better we’d feel if we laughed more. Let’s find out.
A duck walks into a store and asks the cashier, “Got any grapes?”
The cashier replies, “No, we don’t have any grapes.”
The next day, the same duck returns and asks again, “Got any grapes?”
The cashier, a bit annoyed, says, “I told you yesterday, we don’t have any grapes!”
The following day, the duck comes back once again and asks, “Got any grapes?”
The cashier, now furious, yells, “If you come back here asking for grapes again, I’m going to nail your beak to the floor!”
The next day, the duck walks in and asks, “Got any nails?”
The cashier, confused, says, “No.”
The duck then asks, “Got any grapes?”
Laughter is often said to be a natural remedy for many ailments, including aging, because of its many physical and mental health benefits. Laughter is especially helpful for people with chronic conditions, like Myasthenia Gravis. How does it do this?
Laughter can reduce stress by lowering the levels of stress hormones like cortisol. Cortisol accelerates the aging process and worsens symptoms of chronic conditions. Laughter can improve circulation by temporarily increasing your heart rate and blood pressure which can help deliver oxygen and nutrients to your body. This can be especially helpful if your circulation is restricted due to limited mobility. Laughter can boost your immune system by increasing the production of antibodies to fight off illness and infection. Laughter can increase endorphins which are your body’s natural feel-good chemicals that help to relieve pain, promote a sense of well-being and counteract the effects of stress and negative emotions. Laughter can promote social connections as sharing laughter with others strengthens social bonds and is linked to better overall health. Positive relationships and a sense of belonging are key factors in mental health and longevity. Laughter can encourage relaxation as your muscles may stay relaxed for up to 45 minutes after a good laugh. This relaxation response can help combat the physical effects of stress.
While laugher probably won’t heal you completely, it can certainly help you feel better, promote overall well-being and help provide a positive outlook on life.
I need to laugh more and I sense you do, too. I’m going to issue you a challenge. I’m going to try to tell a joke to someone every day for the rest of the month of August. I challenge you to do the same.
Let’s make this world a little happier, one joke at a time.