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Laugh

  Who/what do you think is funny?  My dad used to watch The Three Stooges.  I never understood why.  What I do like, is Christian comedy.  To be specific, my two favorites are John Crist and Tim Hawkins. John pokes fun at the church and Tim pokes fun at homeschoolers.
   John is the son of a preacher, so he's seen the church from inside and out, and pulls the mask off for all to see. Tim, a homeschooling father is tuned into, not so much who homeschoolers really are, but who outsiders think they are.
    It may not be easy to laugh in times of stress, but that may, in fact, be the best time to laugh because it promotes relaxation, according to activebeat. It also releases endorphins, which are natural pain killers.Norman Cousins, who wrote the book Anatomy of an Illness, claims that through a diet of comedies, he could find relief from a painful spine condition called ankylosing spondylitis.
    I guess it is a no brainer to say that it improves your mood.  And that can, in fact, draw others to you, because just as  bad mood can be contagious, so can a good mood.  There are people who like to watch funny movies with my son, Ben, just to hear him laugh,, and when asked at a bridal shower what my daughter likes best about her husband, Matt, she said he is funny. So there are just two examples from my family.
   It has also been discovered that people who have cardiac disease laugh less than those who don't. While everyone is so focused on diet and exercise, I think findings such as this are fascinating. 
    Can't make it to the gym?  Try laughing.  Ok, I don't think you can substitute one for the other, but laughing is, in fact, a mini workout.But, in order to burn 50 calories, you have to laugh for 10 -15 minutes. At that rate, it is better than nothing, but not much.
     You may be surprised to know that it also affects blood sugar levels.  Not surprisingly, laughing is better for your levels than a lecture.
     So how, besides watching comedies, can someone laugh, more?  Well, we're more likely to laugh when we are surrounded by people vs. being alone.  Maybe you need to experiment with different types of comedy and comedians to find what best suits you.  Perhaps you need to find the right people to hang out with.  If all else fails, employ a laugh therapist.  Yes, you heard me right. A laugh therapist.  Don't laugh!
   

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