Bump the Holiday Blues with Laughter

Laugh Long and Often!

When is the last time you had a good belly laugh? Laugh often to “”Bump the Holiday Blues.” The article, Stress relief from laughter? It’s no joke, talks about the short and long term benefits of laughter. Belly laughs cause us to fill our lungs with “oxygen rich air.” It also stimulates the release of feel good endorphins. Endorphins are hormones that relieve pain and bring about feelings of joy and pleasure. Runners recognize this feeling as “a runner’s high.” As a result, belly laughs contribute to feelings of relaxation by engaging and disengaging the stress response. It also releases physical tension in our muscles.

Additionally, belly laughs are contagious. Have you ever watched the wave of laughter that spreads when one person starts laughing uncontrollably? One person starts, after that, another starts and then the laughter rolls like a wave. Usually the only one who knows what caused the laughter is the first person. Consequently, the unknown causes more laughter. Have you ever seen a news person laughing because of a story? Did you start laughing too?

Need a Belly Laugh?

A friend shared the following funny story that she received from a former high school teacher:

An old physician, Doctor Gordon Geezer, became very bored in retirement and decided to re-open a medical clinic.

He put a sign up outside that said: “Dr. Geezer’s clinic. Get your treatment for $500 – if not cured, get back $1,000.”

Doctor Digger Young, who was positive that the old geezer didn’t know beans about medicine, thought this would be a great opportunity to get $1,000. So he went to Dr. Geezer’s clinic.

Dr. Young: “Dr. Geezer, I have lost all taste in my mouth. Can you please help me?”
Dr. Geezer: “Nurse, please bring medicine from box 22 and put 3 drops in Dr. Young’s mouth.”
Dr. Young: “Aagh! – This is gasoline!”
Dr. Geezer: “Congratulations!” “You’ve got your taste back. That will be $500.”

Dr. Young Tries Again

Dr. Young gets annoyed and goes back after a couple of days figuring to recover his money.
Dr. Young: “I have lost my memory, I cannot remember anything.”
Dr. Geezer: “Nurse, please bring medicine from box 22 and put 3 drops in the patient’s mouth.”
Dr. Young: “Oh, no you don’t – that is gasoline!”
Dr. Geezer: “Congratulations! You’ve got your memory back. That will be $500.”

Dr. Geezer Proves his Worth

Dr. Young, after having lost $1000, leaves angrily and comes back after several more days.
Dr. Young: “My eyesight has become weak – I can hardly see anything!”
Dr. Geezer: “Well, I don’t have any medicine for that so, “here’s your $1000 back” (giving him a $10 bill.)
Dr. Young: “But this is only $10!”
Dr. Geezer: “Congratulations! You got your vision back! That will be $500.”

Moral of the story – just because you’re “Young” doesn’t mean that you can outsmart an “old Geezer.”

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