I haven’t had a lot to laugh about this week. My deadline is looming and I’m working from 5am to 10 pm with a couple of breaks to walk the dogs and eat. I wasn’t going to post a smile at all this week however, I came across a video that when I saw it on the program some time ago I laughed and laughed. It had the same effect today and I had to share it, for laughter is so good for you and already, having watched it three times already and laughed each time, I know I’m going to meet my deadline. I’m ready to work another day.
I once attended a laughter yoga session where we had to force laughter as it has the same beneficial effects as laughing spontaneously and those benefits stay with you long after the laughing has subsided. Sharing laughter has the effect of creating a bond between people, breaking down divisions and increasing happiness. It also has a physical impact on your body as it boosts the immune system, lowers the hormones which cause stress, decreases pain and has beneficial effects on muscles, including the heart. There are mental benefits as it makes you happy, decreases stress, anxiety and fear and makes you more resilient to what life may throw at you. Then there are the social benefits as laughter acts as an attractant, defuses conflict, enhances team work and bonds a group together and strengthens relationships.
If you don’t get what he is laughing at, don’t worry, just look at him and truly, laughter is contagious.
Thanks Trent for hosting the Weekly Smile. More smiles can be seen here.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
You’re right: laughter is contagious. Forced laughter…that’s interesting. Will have to try that. Thanks for the smile. š I just downloaded this badge earlier today thinking I might start doing these. It’s nice to see good stuff online for a change and I need to really look at the things that make me smile because they are fewer lately.
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I don’t get it. But I laughed anyway.
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I just showed the clip to hubby and got a good laugh again. Like tears streaming, belly laugh. š Their reactions…priceless! Thanks for posting.
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What they got us to do was stand opposite a person and when they said hello you had to laugh. This went on for awhile and then we were given scenarios. One person was the policeman and he’d pulled you up and was giving you a ticket. All you were allowed to do was laugh. Some of the scenarios were so funny in themselves it was easy to laugh but boy did I come away feeling like I was walking on air. Apparently forced laughter uses the same muscles which set off the reaction to the brain to release whatever it releases (probably seratonin) and you get the benefits. I’m sorry you are finding less to smile at lately but you have a wicked sense of humour – hopefully that will bring those smiles back.
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endorphins are what are released. The other way they are released is by running. I’ll take the laughing.
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Yes, I guess that name sounds more like an Austin Powers parody than a real name, doesn’t it? No offense to Ms. Chmelar, who is an Olympic athlete (yes, I Googled it š ) while I, sadly, am not. As they say, laughter is the best medicine, and it sure beats cod liver oil (OK, I added that tag line, but it does, doesn’t it?). Thanks for the laugh and the smile. š I hope you meet your deadline with no problems.
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Glad you got a laugh Trent. It truly makes your day that much easier to get through and I do prefer it most definitely to cod liver oil. I’m working on it. Twenty pages to go but it took me over two weeks to get through pages 50-60. You’ll see me smiling when I get it done.
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I’m sure you will have a big smile when you are done…
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Oh Irene, I get it and thank you so much for a much needed laugh. I loved it so much I played it twice and have tears in my eyes. Just what the doctor ordered today. Loved it. Thanks again š
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Glad it came just when you needed it Miriam. Someone told me the next one that comes up when the video finishes was equally funny so I went back and watched it a couple of times also. How good it is to laugh. š
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Absolutely. Thanks again š
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Ya got a laugh out of me and then I had to watch another video that came up and it was just as funny! Thanks so much for sharing!!
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Glad you got a laugh Deb. Thanks for pointing out the next video. I went back and watched it also and it was so good to have a good laugh. š
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I laughed until I cried. Infectious! Thanks for posting this. I needed it today!
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Glad it came when you needed it Diane. It really helps to laugh.
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Hilarious, even though I couldn’t help feeling sorry for the girl. There are people who don’t change their names for feminist reasons but if I was her, I wouldn’t care. It would be gone.
That said, like all things, it could always be worse.
xx Rowena
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I showed it to my German sister-in-law who being English should have understood the inferences. She didn’t but laughed because it is infectious. So I don’t think the girl or her parents probably even realise how the English saying of her name can cause so much mirth.
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That’s probably a good thing.
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Pingback: Weekend Coffee Share: 30th January 2016 | Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist)
Didn’t know about the forced laughter, but will try it! Your posts always make me smile!
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Glad to hear that Noelle. It is so good for you to smile and laugh.
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Contagious! š
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Absolutely.
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I used to laugh a lot with my staff. The more stressful our work became, the more we laughed. One of my staff said it gave her the best core workout (belly laughs). She was also the one who shared with me the laughing yoga. Keep smiling! It’s going to feel so good when you are on the other side of your deadline!
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Wonderful that you had such a great team Charli but then with you as its head I wouldn’t expect anything else.
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