Far be it from me to state the obvious. Let me just state the, ugh, readily apparent. For centuries the positive effects of humor on health have been recognized. In the Bible, King Solomon proclaimed, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” Plato wrote about the benefits of humor; so did a fourteenth century French surgeon. More recently, laborious research has scientifically confirmed that a little goofiness is just plain good for you!
So let’s agree with kings, philosophers, physicians, researchers, WebMD, The Mayo Clinic, Psychology Today and mirthologists everywhere (yes, there are people who put that on their resumes) that humor can contribute to your well-being, even if it can’t make you young again. We can agree that though humor is not the Fountain of Youth, it can at least make you feel younger.
Well, if a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a barrel of laughs. Miserably mixed metaphor, I know, but watch this YouTube offering and you’ll be rolling around, snorting and holding your side– and will therefore be unable to complain about figures of speech. You can enjoy the benefits of laughter first-hand!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPFCn3itBFE&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
Dr. LaVona Traywich, in the article, “Humor, Laughter and Aging,” does a good job of connecting the dots and making practical suggestions for incorporating a little levity into the senior lifestyle. You can check out the article in its entirety at arfamilies.org
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Laughter is truly good for the body and the soul! Thanks for sharing this article and video clip. I will use this as I work with seniors and their families.