Laugh & Lighten Up

Warwick Marsh

19th May, 2007

I must be one of the stupidest people I know. I was invited to speak at the opening of a local charity called 'Assist' run by Brian Pember, a friend of mine. I wrote the address down in my diary when Brian invited me to speak. I took my diary with me in the car but, guess what, I didn't look at my diary and ended up going to the wrong place. I am sure you would never do that sort of thing. I told Brian later that my favourite Bible verse is, 'God chooses the foolish things to confound the wise'. This is my only claim to fame - I am very foolish. I still have a problem with the 'wise' bit.

Over the years the only way I have learned to survive day-to-day life is to learn to laugh at myself. You might like to laugh along with me - it will keep you healthy. For this reason we have devoted a whole section of our newsletter to laughter for the last five years.

Also our Fatherhood Foundation website www.fatherhood.org.au features laughter so prominently in its heading: Love, Laugh, Listen & Learn.

• Laughter is vital to successful parenting.
  
  
• Laughter is vital for your children to have fun and for you to keep your sanity.
  
  
• Laughter is the shortest distance between two people and a cheerful heart is good medicine.
  
  
• Laughter strengthens family relationships and helps keep you and your children in good health.
  
  
• Parenting can be a serious business, but your children will teach you to laugh again if you allow them to.
  
  
• Children laugh about 300 to 400 times a day.
  
  
• Adults laugh an average of 12 to 17 times a day. While in the 1930's it was estimated that people laughed approximately 16 to 18 minutes daily, now we are doing well if we manage to laugh for 6 minutes every day.
  
  
• Scientists estimate that laughing 100 times is equivalent to a 10-minute workout on a rowing machine, or to 15 minutes on a stationary exercise bike.
  
  
• The mere act of laughing exercises the diaphragm, as well as the abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg, and back muscles.
  
  
• Laughter is the BEST MEDICINE!

Health Benefits of Laughter

• reduce stress
• lower blood pressure
• elevate mood
• boost immune system
• improve brain functioning
• protect the heart
• connect you to others
• foster instant relaxation
• makes you feel good

Mental Health Benefits of Laughter

• Humour enhances our ability to affiliate or connect with others
  
  
• Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.
  
  
• Humour unites us, especially when we laugh together.
  
  
• Laughter heals.
  
  
• Laughs and smiles are enjoyed best when shared with others.
  
  
• Humour changes behaviour - when we experience humour we talk more, make more eye contact with others, touch others, etc.
  
  
• Humour increases energy, and with increased energy we may perform activities that we might otherwise avoid.
  
  
• Finally, humour is good for mental health because it makes us feel good!
  
  
• Good health is one of the many benefits of laughter
  
  
• Laughter reduces our stress levels by reducing the level of stress hormones, and also helps us cope with serious illnesses.
  
  
• "He who has achieved success has worked well, laughed often and loved much." - Elbert Hubbard
  
  
• "You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find humour in anything -even poverty-you can survive it." - Bill Cosby

JOKE for a LAUGH

Sherlock Holmes Tests Dr Watson deduction capabilities Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson go on a camping trip.

After a good dinner and a bottle of wine, they retire for the night, and go to sleep. Some hours later, Holmes wakes up and nudges his faithful friend. "Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see."

"I see millions and millions of stars, Holmes" replies Watson.

"And what do you deduce from that?"

Watson ponders for a minute.

"Well, Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets.

Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo.

Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three

Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.

Theologically, I can see that God is all powerful, and that we are a small and insignificant part of the universe.

But what does it tell you, Holmes?"

Holmes is silent for a moment.

"Watson, you idiot!" he says. "Someone has stolen our tent!

Lovework

Tell your family a funny story at the meal table about something silly you did, or tell a joke, (even use the one above) or better still get your whole family to tell their favourite joke.

Yours for more laughter

Warwick Marsh

Despite the cost of living... it still remains so popular

Dad's Prayer

Dear God
Laughter is the best medicine
So help me laugh more.
But why do I get so serious sometimes
About everything . . .?

That's because you can't see
The wood for the trees.
I have given you children
to teach you how to laugh
Listen to them and learn from them.

You must become a child
to learn how to enjoy life