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Writer's pictureLetecia Griffin

Laughter, Nature's Free Stress Relief Medicine


This past week has been no laughing matter for me. I swear my car hates me. She is down for the count, again. This time they are only asking for a kidney in repair costs. I had a brief shining moment of a speaking engagement that I felt went decently well. Only to end the week with symptoms of strep throat (yet no official diagnosis). Mentally and emotionally drained with the nagging thought, "What's next?"


I wanted to briefly share this with you reader as means of being transparent. Coaches and therapist, though healers, we have our own stuff too. Life for us can be going along smoothly and wham! Our feet get knocked from under us. We have worries, fears, gripes. We have cycles of self-doubt, self-criticisms. This is why whenever my journey gets a little rocky, I share it with you, my faithful readers so that you can see that my life isn't all sunshine and roses. But I still pause to reflect on them both.


So how have I chosen to cope this week? Lots of deep breaths that's for sure. When my sympathetic nervous system is triggered, and the stress hormones start to rise, I use my best defense. Deep breaths. It is the absolute best yet often overlooked antidote. My secondary line of defense of course is gratitude. I have still been pouring my heart out into my gratitude journal night after night. Because regardless of how bleak the situation seems at times, there are still silver linings for me to grasp and reflect on. My last line of defense has been to laugh. I have burned through my mobile data looking up YouTube shorts and reading online jokes. Here are my top 3 of the week.


Wit Vs. Grit

A strong young man at the construction site was bragging that he could outdo anyone in a feat of strength. He made a special case of making fun of Morris, one of the older workers. After several minutes, Morris had had enough. "Why don't you put your money where your mouth is?" he said: "I will bet a week's wages that I can haul something in a wheelbarrow over to that outbuilding that you won't be able to wheel back." "You're on, old man," the braggart replied: "It's a bet! Let's see what you got." Morris reached out and grabbed the wheelbarrow by the handles. Then, nodding to the young man, he said, "All right. Get in."

That next week sounds like it was a doozy for the young man. Maybe someone will let him hold a dollar.


He's used to the quiet type

A passenger in a taxi leaned over to ask the driver a question and tapped him on the shoulder. The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb, and stopped just inches from a large plate glass window.

For a few moments everything was silent in the cab, and then the still shaking driver said, "I'm sorry but you scared the daylights out of me."


The frightened passenger apologized to the driver and said he didn't realize a mere tap on the shoulder could frighten him so much.


The driver replied, "No, no, I'm sorry, it's entirely my fault. Today is my first day driving a cab. I've been driving a hearse for the last 25 years."

That cabby was in the zone; the twilight zone for about half a second.

Did I just get a maybe? Or not now?

A man was taking it easy, lying on the grass and looking up at the clouds. He was identifying shapes when he decided to talk to GOD.

"GOD", he said, "How long is a million years?"

GOD answered, "In my frame of reference, it's about a minute."

The man asked, "GOD, how much is a million dollars?"

GOD answered, "To Me, it's a dime."

The man then asked, "GOD, can I have a dime?"

GOD said, "In a minute."

That's about like my conversation with GOD after last night's Powerball drawing.


Laughter absolutely is a great form of stress relief. Some short-term effects from laughter include stimulating organs throughout intake of oxygen-rich air; activating and relieving our stress response thus increasing and decreasing our blood pressure; and stimulating circulation thus soothing tension in our bodies. Some long-term benefits include boosting our immune systems; relieving pain by prompting our body to release its own natural pain killer; and improving our mood by lessening depression and anxiety. So, the next time life amps up the stress, find a moment to pause, reflect on the good, and find a good laugh.


How about you? What are some things that cause you to LOL? Please share in the comments below. As always, please remember as you begin this journey, don't worry about getting it perfect; just get it going. Until next time. Happy reading!


"The person who can bring the spirit of laughter into a room is indeed blessed." ~Bennett Cerf
 

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