Alison Crane, Garland County Extension Service
Telling actual jokes has never been among my talents. Basically, I have three jokes that I can remember, and it has been so long since I told one of them that I probably would not tell it right now. Just because I am not good at telling jokes does not mean that I am not funny or that I do not enjoy humor and laughing. I actually laugh a lot and have what is sometimes described as a "warped sense of humor." Maybe you can relate.
April has been designated as National Humor Month since 1976, when comedian and author, Larry Wilde, director of the Carmel Institute of Humor, decided the therapeutic benefits of humor needed to be recognized. There is a reason for the saying, "Laughter is the best medicine." Humor and laughter have been studied for many years and the results show the benefits affect us mentally, emotionally and physically.
Laughter is defined as a "complex emotional response to one's environment, situation, and stimuli." But anyone who has enjoyed a "good laugh" knows that it really cannot be reduced to a single description. The average adult laughs 17 times a day, but a child laughs 300 times a day. Laughter brings joy and happiness, and we can learn a good lesson from children.
Laughter can benefit our home and work life and also has many physical benefits. Laughter affects the quality of our lives by drawing people together and relieving tension. When we laugh together bonds are strengthened and it can even improve communication by increasing people's willingness to share information. Laughter changes body chemistry and brain function. Studies have shown that laughter therapies can reduce anxiety, stress, and depression.
Maintaining a good sense of humor can be challenging at times but being able to laugh in difficult situations does help. Need to add a little humor to your life? Try these tips:
Be willing to laugh at yourself and see the humor in your circumstances.
Deliberately do things that are fun and make you laugh.
Watch a funny movie or video.
Reminisce -- it is a great way to recall humorous happenings and laugh all over again.
Learn a new joke and actually tell it so you will remember it.
Spend time with children, pets, or people who make you laugh.
The Garland County Cooperative Extension Service is dedicated to making the lives of Arkansans better. To learn more about extension programs and resources, visit 210 Woodbine St. or call 501-623-6841.
This April's Wonderful Wednesdays! can help you make estate plans for non-titled property and includes special guest speaker Sarah Fendley, attorney with Pinnacle Legacy Law Firm. Join us on April 24 at 1 p.m. at the Garland County Library for the monthly Wonderful Wednesdays! This program is free and sponsored by the Cooperative Extension Service and the GCEHC.