Dear MELISSA,

"Love you, bye," he said as we hung up.

"I think the U Haul guy just told me he loved me," I shared with my friend.

We laughed and laughed and laughed.

Given all the challenges I had with U Haul and moving my things to the Hill Country,

The laugh was a much needed ending to this story.

I still giggle when I think about it.

I'm sure he felt silly when he realized what he did.

Yet, he brought a smile to this stranger on the other end of the line.

Truth is laughter is essential to good health and managing stress.

And God knows the stress of the last two and half years could be oppressive at times.

Furthermore, it seems many people either lost their sense of humor or never had it.

Truthfully, I don't trust people who take themselves and everything too seriously or too personally.

I miss the classic comics such as George Burns, Redd Foxx and George Carlin.

They knew how to keep you rolling with a straight face no less.

Seriously, I love to laugh, and have plenty to laugh at in my life.

My hearing deficit alone provides ample comical relief on a daily basis.

Oh, and I've heard most of the jokes of the hearing impaired.

They're funny because they are true.

And, for the record, baby giggles are my absolute favorite sound of all.

Remarkably so that I nearly bought a doll that giggled whenever you passed it.

(I secretly regret having passed the opportunity.)

But enough about me.

When was the last time you laughed until your side hurt, you snorted,

Laughed until you cried, or just couldn't quit laughing?

If you are like most people these days, it's been a while... probably too long.

Let's jump aboard the laugh train and see what trouble we can find.

I could use another belly buster.

Love you, bye,

Melissa

P.S. Previous issues can be accessed on my website here: https://melissafairchild.coachesconsole.com/newsletters

Laughing in the Rain

Life is too short to be serious all the time. So if you can’t laugh at yourself, call me. I’ll laugh at you. ~ Anonymous

Laughter is Good Medicine

Life happens - A LOT - these days. The tendency is to take these experiences and yourself way too seriously, especially when facing a world gone crazy... where nothing makes sense any longer.

It's understandable, but a ton of research consistently (and with few exceptions) reveals that laughing actually helps you to get through the challenges with more resiliency. In short, you should laugh more, and heartily while you are at it.

Oh, I hear you. There is so much to worry about. (Please believe me when I say I get it.) But the reality is that worrying or being super serious won't change or stop these things from occurring. If, in fact, they occur at all.

Obsessing, however, can kill you slowly or suddenly. Laughter, on the other hand, is chock full of benefits.

Let's look at illness, for example. Back in the 1960s, Norman Cousins, editor of the Saturday Review, had been diagnosed with a painful degenerative disease of the connective tissue that left him weak and barely able to move. Doctors told him he had a very little chance of recovery. Instead of undergoing conventional treatments, Cousins checked into a hotel.

While taking massive doses of vitamin C, he also watched hours of the Marx Brothers. “I made the joyous discovery that 10 minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect,” he stated in a book he later wrote, “and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep.”

Cousins recovered and lived for another 26 years. Partly inspired by his experience, scientists began researching the healing power of laughter. Scores of studies have confirmed his claims.

Now, I'm not suggesting to use laughter to avoid life and painful emotions, but rather to enhance life during both good and trying times. Of course, timing is everything, but when appropriately practiced, humor can lighten your load and contribute to your healing or overcoming challenges.

Even God (or however you may refer to this being) has a funny bone. A recent experience demonstrated this. I have been reading a book about how God is answering your questions all day, every day.

So one day as I was driving through my current neighborhood in the country, a silly question passed through my mind. You know how you can tell that certain animals are around by the poop they leave behind? Well, in all my walks through the neighborhood I hadn't noticed any deer droppings. Casually, and without any intent of receiving an answer, the question formed, "I wonder where the deer poop?"

The very next day, I see a deer on the side of the road doing it's business as I drive home. I just had to laugh and thank God for the humorous answer.

But that is the beauty of humor. Almost anything can be seen in a different light for a moment. That moment can relax you enough to see an answer you've been overlooking or relieve pain for a couple of hours.

Plus, laughing at yourself and circumstances, can provide tons of comic relief for you and your loved ones. Studies show that those who can laugh at themselves are more prone to feeling good and worrying less.

Take my hearing deficit for instance. If you have spent any time around me, you know my hearing aids don't fix my hearing. I frequently make up words and respond to things that were not said. I could get caught up in shame and embarrassment of these gaffs, or I can laugh it off and find out what I misheard. It's faster and easier to laugh and move on.

Yes, there is a difference between laughing at yourself and putting yourself down, or laughing at the

expense of another, which isn’t healthy (unless of course, it involves your best friend). In general, looking for the funny side in negative circumstances is connected to well-being and emotional health.

Being able to see the humor in events also communicates a sense of self-acceptance of your imperfections and allows you to reclaim your power in challenging situations. So don't obsess about the issues, laugh about them.

Oh and don't get me started on being politically correct to protect feelings. This just isn't so. Being politically correct only shuts people down from sharing and learning from each other. Whereas well done jesting often acknowledges idiosyncrasies or exaggerates common characteristics, thereby allowing a good chuckle that relaxes you enough to start working through the issues together.

Although timing is important, there will always be at least one who is not able to laugh at some issue or other. If this is you, then don't laugh. However, this doesn't mean others are not allowed to laugh.

And have you ever noticed how you reflexively imitate someone else’s laugh even if you’re not feeling the same emotion?

Well, another study, showed that laughter truly is infectious as the brain responds to the sound of laughter and preps the muscles in the face to join in the fun. Indeed, the critical laughter trigger for most people is not necessarily a joke or a funny movie, but rather another person. What’s more, laughing with other people can strengthen relationships.

No matter how you look at it, laughter is good for you. For your health, your well being, your relationships... it's time to laugh more!

Benefits of Laughing

A good sense of humor won't cure all your troubles, but it can help you to get through to the other side of them. Making a habit to regularly laugh can also positively impact the functioning of the body. The deeper and more uncontrolled the laughter, the greater the benefits. So, laugh more, not less.

Suggestions to Laugh More

I believe we can't laugh enough. So how do you bring in more laughter when you are tired, ever-extended or down in the dump? You get creative. You don't have to work hard at it, but you do need to do something. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Cool Resource

We don’t laugh because we’re happy; we are happy because we laugh. — William James

Hasya (Laughter) Yoga

Laughing yoga was discovered by Dr. Madan Kataria, a family physician in Mumbai, India, in 1995. This yoga form is based on the belief that voluntary laughter provides the same physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter. Dr. Kataria claims that laughing yoga will help improve your mood, reduce stress, strengthen your immune system, and increase your energy levels, while helping you better manage adversity.

Laughing yoga involves various movement and breathing exercises to promote intentional laughter. Most sessions begin with simple breathing techniques, clapping, and chanting to help people relax. For example, you may begin the class by clapping rhythmically 1-2, 1-2-3 while chanting “ho-ho, ha-ha-ha.” Though it may seem silly at first, the intention of this exercise is to remove any internal judgment you may have.

Laughter Yoga Exercises to Try

Greeting laughter

Walk around to different people with palms pressed together at the upper chest in the Namaste greeting or shake hands and laugh, making sure to look into other people’s eyes.

Lion laughter

Thrust out the tongue, widen the eyes, and stretch the hands out like claws while laughing.

Humming laughter

Laugh with the mouth closed and hum.

Silent laughter

Open your mouth wide and laugh without making a sound. Look into other people’s eyes and make funny gestures.

Gradient laughter

Start by smiling and then slowly begin to laugh with a gentle chuckle. Increase the intensity of the laugh until you’ve achieved a hearty laugh. Then gradually bring the laugh down to a smile again.

Heart-to-heart laughter

Move close to a person and hold each other’s hands and laugh. If people feel comfortable, they can stroke or hug each other.

If the you are ready to significantly decrease overwhelm, increase your productivity and feel vitally alive again at work and home, maybe it's time to schedule a Time for the Things That Matter Most Strategy Session by clicking on the link. Together, we'll explore what's the next best step for you.

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On a Personal Note