Friday, March 09, 2007

Humor unites people, especially when people laugh together.


Dear Children,

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people. Humor unites us, especially when we laugh together.

Laughter is very powerful medicine. It can lower stress, dissolve anger and unite families in their resolve to overcome troubled times. Without humor one's thought processes are likely to become stuck and narrowly focused leading to increased distress.

Laughter is an important element of life. It cannot be overlooked or underestimated. Laughter is about optimism. Laughter activates the chemistry of the will to live. A good sense of humor and the ability to laugh at stressful situations helps mitigate the damaging physical effects of distressing emotions.

Humor enhances our ability to affiliate or connect with others. Humor changes behavior – when we experience humor we talk more, make more eye contact with others, touch others, etc.

Humor increases energy, and with increased energy we may perform activities that we might otherwise avoid. Finally, humor is good for mental health because it makes us feel good!

Laughing relaxes the body and reduces problems associated with high blood pressure, strokes, arthritis, and ulcers. Without humor one's thought processes are likely to become stuck and narrowly focused leading to increased distress.

By the time a child reaches nursery school, he or she will laugh about 300 times a day. Adults laugh an average of 17 times a day.

What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for each other ?

With Love,
Amma-Naana