Family times with sisters and cousins are infrequent since my youngest daughter's family moved out of the area two years ago. The girls' weekend was planned to bring us all together--nine females in one house, ranging in age from 9 to 71.
In all honesty, I approached this time together with cautious anticipation, my mother's/grandmother's radar checking out potential conflicts. That is a lot of female gathered in one place for three days and three nights.
The caution was all for naught. The fact that laughter dominated our time together was above and beyond what I could have hoped for.
laughter: the sound of laughing
laugh: to show that you are happy and that you think something is funny by smiling and making a sound from your throat; an experience of mirth peculiar to the human species
I love to laugh. There was a long span of time in my life when I didn't know laughter, a time when deep, dark depression would envelop me, and I wasn't sure if I was going to survive.
It is my personal belief that God has the best sense of humor in the world and, since we are created in His image, it is natural that man would be given a sense of humor as well. And yes, since He laughs, we laugh too.
As those times of depression began to lessen, laughter and humor began to be a part of my life. Treasured gifts given by Him, I cannot fathom living life without them.
We have all heard the phrase, "Laughter is the best medicine." That isn't just a cute catch phrase; it is true. Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict.
Laughter is infectious, far more contagious than a cough, sniffle, or sneeze. It is difficult to not be drawn in when others are laughing. In fact, laughing with others is more powerful than laughing alone. Shared, it brings people together in happiness.
There are physical as well as emotional benefits from laughter. It is said to trigger healthy physical changes, including strengthening and boosting your immune system by decreasing stress hormones and increasing immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving resistance to disease.
Laughter boosts your energy, diminishes pain, and relaxes one's whole body, the effects remaining for 45 minutes. Who knew?
Upon engaging in laughter, the release of endorphins is triggered, the body's natural feel-good chemicals, promoting an overall sense of well-being. One cannot feel anxious, sad, or angry while laughing. Laughing just makes you feel good.
A potent dose of laughter also protects the heart, improving the function of blood vessels and increasing blood flow, a protection against heart attack and cardio-vascular problems.
I laughed and laughed this past weekend. And then I laughed some more, getting a healthy amount of "cheek exercise." The time spent with my three daughters and five grandgirls will forever be a part of me, the memories of the sounds of laughter filling my being and my soul. I could not have asked for more.
May your days, your lives be filled with laughter. May you laugh. And then laugh some more. Laugh so hard your cheeks hurt, so that you, too, get "cheek exercise." It's good for you! Or, as my Mother would say, "It's good for what ails you."
"A merry heart does good like medicine."
"Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh."
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