Laughter: the best medicine!

With all that's going on in our world I, for one, feel we need to laugh more! When Jim's home, I laugh a whole lot more. (He's a nut, making faces like this all the time, which he'll be sure NOT to do now when I have my camera!). So when he's gone, especially on a cold dreary days like today, I find myself looking for a few good belly laughs.

I found some interesting facts about laughter while I was looking... this from Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Indiana:

• Laughter lowers the levels of cortisol, which suppresses the immune system, preventing disease.


• Stanford University studies show a good belly laugh can give you health boosting benefits equal to 10 minutes on a rowing machine (I'm all for this alternative!!)


• Laughing for 15 seconds adds 2 days to your life span.


• According to study by Dr. Michael Titze, a German Psychologist, in the 50's people use to laugh an average of 18 minutes a day. Today, that's down to 4 - 6 minutes a day. (how sad)


• Dr. Michael Miller from the University of Maryland found that laughter can improve circulatory and cardiovascular health.

So here's my little way of benefiting your health today... watch this YouTube video I found of a cat playing with a plastic cup and continually getting it's head stuck in it! Too funny, even if you're not a cat person! I think this may well become a regular part of our blog - because I want you all to be around a long long time!!! :)