Thursday, January 20, 2011

LAUGHTER


We can all benefit from laughter. It increases the amount of endorphins your body releases. According to About.com , endorphins are chemicals produced in the brain in response to a variety of stimuli, and they may be nature's cure for high levels of stress. In addition to decreased feelings of pain, secretion of endorphins leads to a feeling of euphoria, modulation of appetite and enhancement of the immune response. With high endorphin levels, we feel less pain and fewer negative effects of stress. I read in "Decorating Your Heart and Home-God's Design for Joyful Living" by Brenda Gay Shumaker that she buys some really funny things in shops and sprinkles them around her house in unexpected places to make her guests laugh.

She has a stuffed bear on the bed in he guest room and when someone picks him up to move him, he snores. On the windowsill over her kitchen sink she has a little sign that reads "My Three Favorite Words, LET'S EAT OUT." In her family room she placed a funny frog dressed in an apron and dust cap. On the front of the apron are the words "Housework Makes You Croak." On the sill next to her ivy sits a little wooden bunny with a shirt that says "HOME OF THE DUST BUNNIES." The ones she says that's received the most attention is the one in her office which reads, "Behind Every Successful Woman Is a Surprised Man". Proverbs 17:22 says "A merry heart does good like medicine." Watch a funny movie or cartoon, place a cute sign or animal in your house (I have a bunny that laughs when you squeeze his tummy) or read a Garfield book. Not only will you smile and laugh but you will actually feel better mentally and physically. Find something to add laughter to your life!


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