Friday Fitness Funnies: Laughter Does a Brain Good

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

15 Sep 2006 07:11 AM

I like to go and look up Fitness funnies every Friday and I try to populate this blog with humorous stories now and then. As it turns out, my reasoning was that humor does a body good, but what humor does the mind good. There are plenty of physicians still debating the merits of humor, but did you know that there is an American Association of Therapeutic Humor? I didn't.

Though I have to admit, the idea that there are physicians and associations out there who take in serious note the fact that humor can be a healing tool brings a certain amount of comfort. After all, I can't see how laughter could hurt anyone and in fact, I know that even in the hardest of circumstances - when you laugh - you do feel better - even if it's only a brief lift to the mood.

So how can you use humor to improve and lift your mood today?

Try listening to a favorite comedian on tape or CD. Among my tip top favorites are Bill Cosby and Robin Williams. Despite the dramatically different styles of these two comedians, they always make me laugh and that laughter always leaves me feeling weak with relief and genuine pleasure. My husband used to say that Bill Cosby was his all time favorite comedian and several times during his teenage years, he memorized several of Cosby's monologues.

We actually got to see Bill Cosby perform live twice at the Wolf Trap in Northern Virginia when we lived there. Once while I was pregnant and once while I wasn't. I have to say, it was a real treat to be there in the audience and listen to his conversational style humor - he's engaging, funny and altogether a warm man. I'd love to sit down and talk to him over dinner one evening - that's how inviting his personality is.

Humor is like chicken soup - just what the doctor ordered for the tired, stressed or overworked mind. It's a way to lighten the load and to invigorate the senses. Laughter may not be a cure-all, but it is certainly a salve to what ails us and speaking from experience, driving on a dark and stormy night to the hospital to give birth - humor such as Bill Cosby's Fatherhood - can make me laugh and chase away the anxiety and the worry.

What comedy do you enjoy to help you laugh?

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Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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