Laughter – Truly The Best Medicine
We all need that one friend, you know, the one you can’t sit next to in church, or pops off with inappropriate statements at inopportune times. Maybe they tell you a story that makes you laugh until you are crying. Perhaps in what started off to be a really bad day, can end with some silly laughter, or when you are having a moment — tears of frustration, or sorrow, can be turned into tears of joy. Laughter is truly the best medicine.
I am fortunate to have more than one person in my life that can get me thrown out of a restaurant (quoting a movie was involved and things got loud). The sideways glance in church (ever notice our mother sits between us?), because some things just sound funny. Then the giggling starts. The re-telling of a story that has you laughing and crying at the same time. LOUDLY. The concert where you are singing along, and having a great time. I used to say I lived my life out-loud, I laugh, I cry, I sing, I wear my emotions fairly close to the surface. This was exacerbated by my car accident and head injury five years ago, I kinda lost a coupla filters, and honestly I cry at the drop of a hat. I cry A LOT. It just is what it is, things touch me on a very deep level, then here come the tears. In the beginning I was embarrassed by it, but after five years, you just are more like, well, that is me … can’t help it, I had a brain injury.
This past weekend, we were vending at an event. My sister, in an effort to lighten the mood, started telling a story that one of her clients had shared with her. Kind of an Elf On The Shelf type of scenario, but it involved a Barbie that had been left at the cabin they had purchased last summer. Without going into details, because it isn’t my story to tell, and knowing my sister is the more proper one, the fact we were hee-hawing over this Barbie story is one of those you-kinda-had-to-be-there situations. Then a gentleman walked by in some waaayyyy too short shorts, and we added him to the story. We laughed about Pat and Patty for hours, even into dinner. It turned a day that wasn’t going well, into a day that will forever be known for pound cake. If you ask me what’s for dessert, pound cake might be the answer, followed by raucous laughter. I had purchased a clear bathtub last week, to display the bath salts in, for photos for the website, which turned into naked Barbies in the bath … more laughter.
Not everyone has this type of friend, or a family member who can make you laugh until you cry. I am very fortunate to have several. I have some alternate suggestions to help lighten the mood.
1.) Watch a funny movie or TV show, not everyone has our twisted sense of humor, but a couple of favorites are Ace Ventura (might have been the movie that we were quoting that got us asked to leave a local Mexican Food restaurant), Meet The Parents, There’s Something About Mary (we quote this one on the regular), The Pink Panther movies are great for a laugh, most things with Robin Williams in them, find your favorites, laugh, laugh, then laugh some more.
2.) Put on some happy dance music, switch up the energy, get out of your chair or off the couch and move your butt, move your feet. If you know me well, you know I love all the sappy 70’s songs, however, sometimes you gotta dance it out, K.C. & the Sunshine Band, Earth, Wind & Fire, the Bee Gee’s (or hey even the Dee Gee’s), Journey is always good to get the blood flowing. Dance like no one is watching.
3.) Get out of the house, take a walk around the block. Swing your arms -— move the body. Move the emotions around, move your lymph, you would be surprised at what a 10 minute walk can accomplish, even my chiropractor recommends this.
4.) Our Happiness Soak bath salts have a magical blend of essential oils, herbs, Epsom salt and baking soda — you will feel better after a soak in them. No tub? Soak your feet in the salts or take a shower — visualize the blue feelings going down the drain.
5.) Sometimes helping someone else can get us out of our own funk, remind us how blessed we truly are.
6.) Call a friend.
7.) Write in your gratitude journal. Focusing on what we are great-full for can help us in so many ways.
8.) Change up the oils in your diffuser, orange, lemon, lime, bergamot or grapefruit, are all great for lifting your heart center. No diffuser? We would love to help you out with a diffuser and some essential oils ❤️, or try some incense or if the weather permits, just opening the windows.