He Who Laughs, Lasts

Wisdom Nugget: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones”

“The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.” - Mark Twain

Laughter is a convulsive physiological response to psychological stimuli, such as humorous material, or physical stimuli, such as tickling. The sudden release of tension during laughter causes a decrease in skeletal muscle tone, literally rendering the body “weak with laughter.” The diaphragm contracts and relaxes rapidly, often leading to hiccups or coughing. Some people double over and shake uncontrollably as though they were having seizures (“a fit of laughter”).
Scientists have been studying the effect of laughter on human beings, and have found, among other things, that laughter has a profound and instantaneous effect on virtually every important organ in the human body.

Laughter reduces health-sapping tensions and relaxes the tissues as well as exercising the most vital organs. Laughter, even when forced, results in a beneficial effect on us, both mentally and physically. Physicians have noted that laughter acts as an anesthetic by distracting the patient’s attention from pain - by reducing tension, by changing the patient’s expectations and by increasing the patient’s production of endorphins, which are natural painkillers (Peter and Dana, pp. 7-9).

Psychologists note that clowns and their regressive form of humor can coax people out of a state of withdrawal (Moody, pp. 27, 111-15).

 
Next time you feel nervous and jittery, indulge in a good laugh. Laughter is the best medicine for a long and happy life. He who laughs lasts.

 
It is said that Dr. Theodore Cuyler and Mr. Spurgeon were once out in the fields enjoying God's sunshine and the beauties of nature. Dr. Cuyler told a story at which Mr. Spurgeon laughed until his sides shook. Suddenly Mr. Spurgeon said, "Theodore, let's get down on our knees and thank God for laughter." And these two happy Christian preachers knelt in the field and thanked God for His great gift of laughter.
Martin Luther wrote "If you're not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don't want to go there".

You Don't Have Anything To Lose - Dare To Laugh

Wisdom Nugget: "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones”

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”
― Charles Dickens,

 

One Nigerian proverb says "When the mouse laughs at the cat there's a hole nearby." And a German proverb says "He who tickles himself may laugh when he pleases." Brothers and sisters, laughter is a choice but before you choose remember what Ella Wheeler Wilcox said, "Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Weep, and you weep alone." I have discovered that humour can be found in just about every situation. We just need to stop and think, and just take a good look around us and we can always find reasons to share joy.

Laughter is saying, "I'm okay, you're okay" It's a way we can accept what we can't change. Laughter can be the driving force to make life alive again. Laughter is low-calorie, caffeine-free, no-salt, no preservatives or additives, 100% natural, and one-size-fits-all.

Laughter is truly God's gift. You can get high on laughter but never overdose.

Laughter is contagious. Once it starts, little can be done to stop it. Laughter never felt bad, committed a crime, started a war or broke a relationship.

Laughter is shared by the giver and the receiver. Laughter costs nothing, and it's non-taxable.

Laughter is a trend setter. If we found ways to laugh first thing in the morning, it may, in fact, set the trend for the rest of the day.

One of the most constructive uses of laughter is when we laugh at ourselves. If we can laugh at ourselves, we leave little room for others to laugh at us. In William Barclay's daily devotional "Daily Celebration", appears this little story: "There was a little Indian girl at school today," announced my son proudly. "Does she speak English?" I asked. "No," came the quick reply, "but it doesn't matter because she laughs in English!"

Laughter is the universal language. You can laugh in any language and it will be understood. Keep laughing! If you can laugh at it, you can live with it.

Laughter is to life what salt is to an egg. Laughter is the cheapest luxury man has. It stirs up the blood, expands the chest, electrifies the nerves, clears away the cobwebs from the brain, and gives the whole system a cleaning rehabilitation.

Laughter Can Help Your Marriage

"Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face". Lets restore the sunshine back to our homes because a good laugh is sunshine in every home" - Victor Hugo

Wisdom Nugget: "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones

 

The writer of the Proverbs has a saying which the Authorized Version translates: "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." But, if we look in the margin, we find another translation: "A merry heart doeth good to a medicine." Moffatt has it: "A glad heart helps and heals." The A.R.S.V. has it: "A cheerful heart is a good medicine."

A medicine will do far more good to a man with a happy heart than it will do to a gloomy and pessimistic soul. A doctor can hardly write in his prescription "To be taken three times a day with a merry heart," but he certainly would, if he could. It is a medical fact that those who laugh most live longest.

A hearty laugh expands the lungs, and is good for any man. Every time we greet life with a happy human face, we are stretching the span of life for ourselves and giving ourselves the best of medicines. Laughter is one of the greatest mental tonics known to man. It is the second most powerful human emotion we as people can possibly express (the first being love). 
 
Laughter can dispel anxiety; help manage stress, depression, fear and worry. It can stimulate the healing process. Laughter provides strong medical, psychological, social and even spiritual benefits.
Laughter is like internal jogging. It enhances the respiratory system, helps oxygenate the body, relaxes tense muscles, and is an all-around pain killer. It will lower pulse and blood pressure. Laughter can pave the way for a new and exciting outlook on life. It is the universal communicator that can cross all boundaries of race and culture.
 
You can't laugh and be mad; you can't laugh and worry. Stress, worry and laughter are not compatible.
Take a cup of love, two cups of loyalty, three cups of forgiveness, four quarts of faith, and one barrel of laughter.

So if today your marriage has any signs or symptoms of sickness permit me to give you the following prescription: take love and loyalty and mix it thoroughly with faith; blend it with tenderness, kindness, and understanding. Add friendship and hope. Sprinkle abundantly with laughter. Bake it with sunshine. Wrap it regularly with lots of hugs. Serve generous helpings daily, and you've got a marvelous recipe for a happy marriage.