Laughter is the Best Medicine

Have you heard the World’s Funniest Joke, according to Wikipedia? Here it is.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson go on a camping trip, and after finishing their dinner 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," exclaims 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. What does it tell you, Holmes?"

"Watson, you idiot!" He exclaims, "Somebody's stolen our tent!"

When was the last time you had a good, long laugh? After it was over, you probably said something like, “Boy, I needed that!” Laughter is one of the most enjoyable ways to feel healthy—it really does make a person feel better!

I’ve actually read that there are physical reasons that laughter is healthy for us. Laughter relaxes the body, relieving tension and stress. It boosts the immune system. Laughter triggers the release of feel-good endorphins. It boosts oxygen levels. It relieves pain! Laughter protects the heart by improving the function of blood vessels and increasing blood flow.

While I’m sure the physical rewards have merit, who thinks about that stuff? We all know from first hand experience that laughter makes us feel good on an emotional level. It’s infectious. It has a way of binding people together and increasing intimacy. Sharing a good laugh is one of the best ways to lighten a bad situation and move past our hurts. It creates golden memories. It gives a spark of hope.

Sometimes I need to tell myself to lighten up. Life can get very serious if I let it. There’s certainly no better way to lighten up my outlook than to laugh. Heard a good joke anyone?