HappilyRetired.Com

Have you ever heard the saying, “Laughter is the best medicine”? Well, studies have shown and proven that laughter really is good medicine. It releases endorphins that in turn help us better physically and mentally. If you think about it, when we are down and don’t allow ourselves to find humor in life, we feel worse or continue to be sad. On the other hand, if we can see the funny side of things in life and are able to laugh about, we actually do feel better and brings our spirits up.

Humor really does heal.

If you took your own poll, and talked with individuals that have all types of personalities, you would find that those who are able to see humor in life have more positive attitudes and feel better physically. Those that are more pessimistic and do not have the tendency to find humor in life often have more complaints of ailments and sadness. Life is full of good and bad things, and depending on how we deal with the worst of situations, will affect our well being. Despite the serious, sometimes catastrophic, events that can be handed to us, laughter is appropriate at times to help us gain perspective. Yes, those times are grim, but laughter can help maintain our sanity.

So, just remember, as you age, optimism and laughter really do lighten the heart, and help us find hope. We don’t have to howl and hoot our way through older ages. Sometimes humor is often at its best when its quiet and subtle!

Penny Howard, RN , Nurse Liaison
Palmetto Behavioral Health
Charleston, South Carolina