Laughter: A family's best medicine

"Laughter is the sun that drives the winter from the human face"

-Victor Hugo

There was once a group of friars who were behind on their belfry payments, so they opened a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone liked buying flowers from the men of God, a rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair, so he asked them to close down. They refused to.

So the rival florist hired Hugh McTaggart, the biggest, toughest thug in town to "persuade" them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they didn't close down. Terrified, they did indeed close, thereby proving that Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars.

A bit corny, yes-but I'll bet it made you crack a smile.

Many of us tend to take life far too seriously, especially in those times when we have no immediate control over circumstances.

This is not to diminish the challenging times we're all subject to, but rather to give us pause to consider the effect fear and stress have on our well-being and, equally, the effect joy and laughter can have.

I believe we tend to forget about the amazing healing power that can accompany heartfelt laughter, and joyous and kindhearted humor. When we are immersed in a good belly laugh, we tend to be so fully present in the moment that we forget about anything and everything else.

This is why children laugh far more often than adults-they are more fully present in the moment at hand because they aren't consumed with what tomorrow "may" bring or with the regrets of yesterday. I guess we could say that, for many, life is a "serious" problem until they learn how to lighten up a bit.

Deep laughter is sort of like a mini-vacation for our minds, which of course has everything to do with what's going on in our bodies. From a medical perspective, it's been proven that humor and laughter play a vital role in expediting the healing process.

In his best-selling book "Anatomy of an Illness," Norman Cousins professes to have demonstrated a total physical healing from a crippling disease by watching nothing but Marx Brothers and Three Stooges movies for an intense period of time. He says that "laughter is inner jogging."

It's true. When we laugh, our insides get a great workout; endorphins and other health-stimulating chemicals are instantly and autom a t i c a l l y pumped into our bloodstreams, and our bodies receive the relaxing and healing benefit. It's been said that laughter is the only tranquilizer that has no harmful side effects.

From a spiritual perspective, laughter can really dissolve the distance between two or more people because our hearts all speak the same tongue, which is love; irrespective of the language or the culture, a sincere laugh is unmistakably understood.

Perhaps Mark Twain said it best: "The human race has but one really effective weapon, and it is laughter." When you think about it, when we laugh together it can be disarming, can't it? So, whether we are talking about inner peace or world peace, more laughter could be just what we need.

I close with this word of wisdom: It's important to remember that those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end! (Smile) More than anything else, just remember, he who laughs ... lasts.

So, make a point to catch yourself (or invite a friend or loved one to lovingly remind you) the next time you're taking things too seriously. Start by taking a deep breath, and then look for something in which you can find humor.

Perhaps you can keep a joke book or comic strip in your desk drawer or glove box, or turn your TV on and watch Comedy Central. Try standing on your head in front of the mirror, remembering that a frown is just a smile turned upside down! Tomorrow when you're making breakfast, remember that a boiled egg in the morning is really hard to beat. Come on ... laugh! Feels good, doesn't it?

Dennis Merritt Jones is the author of the book "The Art of Being: 101 Ways to Practice Purpose in Your Life." He is the spiritual director for OneSpirit Center for Conscious Living in Simi Valley.