by enda Junkins
Laugh More
whY FeeliNg tickled is good For us
be aware. when the corners of our mouth turn up
involuntarily and we must swallow unsolicited giggles,
we may be giving way to laughter addiction.
T
he high that we gain when we tive way. Contrary to common percep- Anyone can join the laughter
laugh until we hold our sides, tions, in my 20 years as a laughter movement. All it takes is a willingness
roll about on the floor and feel therapist I have found that laughter to risk some loss of control. The timid
the tears streaming down our cheeks is born of tension, stress and pain, so may start with a few shy giggles. The
is addicting. So, what protects us from most people need not worry about courageous may jump in with deep
such loosey-goosey, nonsensical fun? being able to laugh. Stress has been belly laughs. A sense of humor is not
Only our own serious, controlled ap- called the number one health problem required. There’s more than enough
proach to life, from sex to the family today; we’ve all got it. stress to go around, and absurdity
vacation. Laughter therapy is about learn- abounds in our daily lives. All we have
Human beings are not born seri- ing to laugh freely again at the many to do is believe, let go and clap our
ous. We begin life fully equipped with things we deal with that aren’t other- hands, and laughter will live again.
an innate playfulness and the ability to wise funny. Children will play with So will we. When we laugh, we feel
laugh freely. Sadly, most of us curb our almost anything except direct pain. deeply, which allows us to live fully.
playfulness and laughter as a sacrifice Adults were intended to do the same. We can encourage everyday
to the serious business of adulthood. In When we can play with our pain, we laughter at home by being playful
order to keep laughing, we need to be laugh. When we laugh, we shift our with our families. Wear a clown nose
in a partial state of playfulness, either perspective and problems shrink to when putting children to bed. Break up
consciously or unconsciously. Laughter a manageable size. We don’t dimin- chores by indulging in a pillow fight.
therapy is one way to help us ease our ish their importance, but we feel less Ease conflict by saying something light
adult seriousness and retrieve that lost overwhelmed. and unexpected. Let hand puppets
sensation of play. Laughter is warm, bonding and help with family communication or say
Laughter is not only fun; it is also it with a humorous hat. Life at home
good for us. At last, something good
LAUGH TO:
doesn’t have to be serious; it’s far too
for us that is also enjoyable. There is
Relieve stress
important for that.
no need for yucky-tasting diet concoc- We can slip laughter into the
tions, profuse sweating in concen-
Resolve conflict
workplace with a few lighthearted
trated exercise or tough changes for
Enhance communications
windup toys. Play with frustrations by
this particular pursuit of health. All Enrich relationships writing them on shoe soles and walk-
that’s required is pure, unrestrained,
Have fun
ing on them. Wear a temporary tattoo
old-fashioned laughter. that expresses our mood for the day.
Laughter heals the body and contagious. It connects with those we No one need see it. Find ways to cel-
eases painful emotions like anger and love and with our fellow human be- ebrate stress; we might as well enjoy
fear (see this month’s Healing Ways ings. We need to feel good. We need it. We can practice laughing, so that
department). It helps us cope with to feel connected. We need to feel we can laugh when we need it most.
daily survival in a pleasant and effec- safe. We need to laugh more. Mother Nature laughs. She creat-
36 Phoenix
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