This is not a day I ever thought I would celebrate. Although I enjoy a good joke, I’m not a tell a joke person. I never have been. I have a good sense of humor. Yet whether it was anxiety over getting it right, or fear that no one would laugh, I have refrained from joke telling all my life.
But in the spirit of adventure and embracing firsts, in my continuing quest to move beyond my comfort zone, I’m journeying today into that dangerous area of discomfort…Jokes. And rejoicing in the ability to use technology to share some funnies.
One enormous result of joke telling, a practice that has been around for centuries, is laughter. And laughter is good medicine. It relieves stress, releases the feel good hormone oxytocin, and moves energy throughout the body.
Other health benefits of a good belly laugh include relaxing the body, for up to 45 minutes, boosting the immune system, decreasing pain and preventing heart disease. Those side effects of laughter are vital enough to encourage me to listen to a joke a day or watch a comedy frequently.
And wait, there’s more. Laughter has mental benefits as well including easing fear, increasing resilience, improving mood, and adding joy and zest to life. What a simple remedy with amazing effects.
And there’s even more. Laughter strengthens relationships, promotes group bonding, increases teamwork, and attracts others to us. Especially those who enjoy a good laugh as well. Smiling and laughing are very attractive. Studies have shown that laughter is more contagious than yawning, coughing, sniffling or sneezing.
I do love to laugh. I spent the weekend with family and laughter was an integral part of our time together. Laughter throws a switch in my brain that tells my body, “Prepare to have some fun.” I intend to keep laughing and keep enjoying life, and joke telling just became a part of that intention.
And so, here is one of my favorite jokes, perhaps because I have two sisters and I can so see us here in about 40 years!
There are three sisters, ages 96, 94 and 92 who live in a house together. One night the 96 year old draws a bath. She puts her foot in and pauses. She yells down the stairs, “Was I getting in the bath or out of it?” The 94 year old yells up, “I don’t know. I’ll come up and see.” She starts up the stairs and pauses. She yells, ” Was I going up the stairs or down?” The 92 year old is sitting at the kitchen table having tea, listening to her sisters. She shakes her head and says, “I sure hope I never get that forgetful.” She knocks on the wooden table for good measure. She then yells, “I’ll come up and help both of you, as soon as I see who’s at the door.”
I hope you laughed!
Going Beyond 