Issue 12 December 2005

Sanity Saver#2: Lighten Up
Okay ladies, now here’s something to consider. Did you
know that it takes seventeen muscles to smile and forty-three
to frown?
The number of times per day an average preschooler laughs is
400. The average number of times per day an average adult laughs
is fifteen. What’s up with us? Clearly we need to lighten
up.
Laughter is healing. A good laugh is therapeutic. Did you know
that when you laugh your brain secretes chemicals that act as
antidepressants. Laughter even gives your immune system a boost.
It’s a great stress reducer. When you laugh your brain releases
endorphins that create feelings of joy and euphoria. There’s
nothing like a good laugh to break the intensity of a situation
and give you some much needed perspective.
Having a sense of humor is another facet of restoring your sanity
and creating greater balance in your life. Yet, in the midst of
our hectic routines we often forget to laugh. We become so serious
that we lose touch with our sense of joy and become somber and
stale. Neither of which is good for our overall sense of well-being.
We’ve all had days when nothing seems to go right. We want
things to be a certain way and we just can’t make it happen.
One of the greatest benefits of having a sense of humor is if
you can laugh, you can get through anything. You simply can’t
laugh and be stressed at the same time. We have a choice. We can
allow ourselves to become more and more uptight or we can accept
things as they are and lighten up. Do you take yourself and your
life too seriously?
Think about when you are able to laugh at yourself in the midst
of a difficult or frustrating situation the relief it brings.
Make a point of lightening up. Start to see the humor in the ironies
of everyday life.
Here’s a tip. The next time you’re stressed out I’d
like you to stand there with a big grin on your face. 2 things
will happen. You’ll feel better and no one’s going
to bother you. People will think, “Something’s wrong
with Barbara, leave her alone today.”
Just to tickle your funny bone, I’d like to tell you a
story about a little 4-year-old girl. She went to the doctor for
her annual check up. She has a particularly friendly doctor with
a great bedside manner. The doctor takes out his odoscope, looks
in her ears and says, “Am I going to find Big Bird in there?”
The little girl looks at the doctor with her big eyes and says,
“Oh no, Big Birds not in there.” Then the doctor takes
the light and shines it down the little girl’s throat and
asks, “ Am I going to find cookie monster in there?”
“Oh no, cookie monster’s not in there.”
Then the doctor takes his stethoscope and places on the little
girl’s heart to listen to her heart beat and says, “Am
I going to find Barney in there?” The little girl says,
“Oh no, God is in my heart. Barney’s in my underwear.”
So remember to laugh, not only is it fun, but it puts things
in perspective and it’s a great restorer of sanity.