Jonathan A. Ward

According to the Mayo Clinic: “When it comes to relieving stress, more giggles and guffaws are just what the doctor ordered.” Here’s some quoted benefits:

“Short Term:
Stimulate many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.

Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.

Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

Long Term:
Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. By contrast, positive thoughts can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses.

Relieve pain. Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.

Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.

Improve your mood. Many people experience depression, sometimes due to chronic illnesses. Laughter can help lessen your stress, depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier. It can also improve your self-esteem.”

And just to do my part in your healing and/or continued good health, here’s some short term contributions:

To the person who stole my antidepressants: I hope you’re happy now.
If a cow doesn’t produce milk, is it an udder failure or a milk dud?
If you care for too many dogs, do you have a rover-dose?
When the freezing rain hits you, it hurts like hail!
Library Parking Only. Violators will be booked.
I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down!
I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised.
I have a chicken-proof lawn. It’s impeccable.
I got a job as a guillotine operator. I’ll beheading there shortly.
We’re in search of fresh vegetable puns; lettuce know?
I try to use self-deprecating humor, but I’m just not very good at it.
Dad Puns? Hey, that’s how eye roll.
Cat puns freak me-owt. And I’m not kitten.

Back to the Mayo Clinic staff: “Whether you’re guffawing at a sitcom on TV or quietly giggling at a newspaper cartoon, laughing does you good. Laughter is a great form of stress relief, and that’s no joke.” And they’re not kitten.