You Don't Have To Have A Great Sense Of Humor To Laugh...

... you simply have to be human.



As I channel surfed on the boob tube last night, I came across a TV channel that was airing the movie Patch Adams, starring Robin Williams.

In the movie, Patch tells his boss:

The American Journal of Medicine has found out that laughter increases secretion of catecholamines and endorphins which in turn increase oxygenation of the blood, relaxes the arteries, speeds up the heart, decreases blood pressure which has a positive effect on all cardiovascular and respiratory as well as overall increasing the immune system response.

Although the quote is taken from a movie, there is some truth behind it. Simply put, laughter makes people feel good. The real life "Patch" knew this as well. He has been putting into practice the idea that "healing should be a loving human interchange, not a business transaction" for more than 20 years. He is the founder and director of the Gesundheit Institute, a holistic medical community that has provided free medical care to thousands of patients since it began in 1971.

The movie got me thinking about the power of laughter, and how it affects us all. Not just in hospitals but in our everyday lives.

Just take a look at a child laughing. In a genuine form, it is the most immediate sign of someone finding something humorous. As we all know, children are the best at sharing honesty. Kids have no problem telling a grownup that he smells or has big ears. The same could be said for something they think is tickling their funny bone. Perhaps the truth can lend a hand from a humorous twist.

Lenny Bruce, a controversial comic and satirist of his time, once said, "The only honest art form is laughter, comedy. You can't fake it... try to fake three laughs in an hour - ha ha ha ha ha - they'll take you away, man. You can't."

Ever watch someone tell a joke that wasn't funny? Yet found it humorous that particular person thought it was funny to begin with? I'm sure there are uncles at Thanksgiving dinners that can prove my point. :)

You can't fake the feeling you get from laughing. It's undeniably a wonderful state that cannot be imitated otherwise, but also hard to pinpoint what makes laughter so infectious.

I've found that bringing laughter into every aspect of my life has helped in ways I never would have imagined. My day job dictates me to be a more "professional-at-all times" sort of employee, but I find that when I make people laugh at work, it becomes such a better place. Not just with other co-workers, but with customers. It can often help to get people out of bad attitudes. Trust me, I've tried with many bosses in my career. Oh, and the crazy customers that I thought could benefit from a shot of sterilization.

Laughter can also alter the mood of someone and catch on like wild fire. Try it out with a friend or a family member going through a bad day. It'll elevate both of you to a new level. It won't cure the problem but it'll help put a smile back on that person's face. At the very least, you got to forget about the bad times with a few good laughs.

On a personal note, I enjoy laughing with people. There's no other feeling that I love more than laughing so well it hurts. As a non-stop jester, I can't help but seek this feeling more than once a day. Laughing is simply great. Sharing it with someone is even better. Why wouldn't you want to find the humor in life? It's way too short otherwise.

For those who lack a sense of humor, I know you'll find me utterly cheery and "hopeful" of a better world through laughter. Someone once said, "You laugh at me because I am different, but I laugh at you because you are all the same."

I plan on keeping the laughs coming, whether or not I'm the only one in on the joke, is a different story. I say laugh hard and laugh well. There's no other way to do so...