LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE!
May 7, 2023 2023-05-07 0:00LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE!
Hello, lovely young people!
Today is World Laughter Day. It is celebrated on the first Sunday in May every year to highlight the positive effect laughter can have on us. So I thought of letting you know about the benefits of laughter and a little bit about the history of this day.
Advantages of laughter
You must have heard the saying, "Laughter is the best medicine." That's actually true because laughter relaxes our muscles which, in turn, helps us handle stress. When we laugh, our body releases chemicals related to positive events and emotions. This may even reduce anxiety and physiological pain. The act of laughter involves deep breathing. So the oxygen flow through the body increases and when we breathe out, the remaining impure air in our lungs gets released. Laughter helps us feel more optimistic about life, prepares us to face challenges with confidence, and empowers us to deal with difficult situations in a calm way.
History of World Laughter Day
World Laughter Day was celebrated for the first time in 1998 at a park in Mumbai. Since then, it has been celebrated by thousands of people in more than 120 countries worldwide. The first World Laughter Day was organised by Dr Madan Kataria, who also founded Laughter Yoga.
Laughter Yoga is based on a series of simple exercises which include the act of laughter. It takes care of our physical, mental and emotional well-being. According to Dr Kataria, "For the body, there is no difference between 'pretend' or 'fake' laughter and real laughter. As long as laughter is deep or hard, it doesn't matter. After regularly attending a 'laughter gym', you begin to feel the physical and emotional benefits."
How do people celebrate World Laughter Day?
They laugh nonstop! People from laughter clubs in cities across the world invite their family and friends to join them, mostly in public spaces, and then they laugh their lungs out.
In 2000, a large 'laughter event' took place where 10,000 people from different age groups and backgrounds gathered in the Town Hall Square of Copenhagen in Denmark to laugh!
Miracles of laughter
Sometimes, deep laughter can help us recover from serious illness. Norman Cousins, a famous writer, believed this. He was diagnosed with a serious illness in his forties. He had trouble while moving, he was always in pain and the doctors said he didn't have much time to live.
Cousins thought that positive emotions could help him get better, so he embraced laughter as a healing technique. He watched comedy films for months from his bed. That made him laugh loudly. He was sure that ten minutes of deep laughter resulted in two hours of painless sleep. He used laughter to recover from his illness. Miraculously, within six months he was able to get up from bed and within two years, he could go back to work. But friends, here's a little disclaimer. If you're unwell, you have to listen to your parents and see a doctor and do as the doctor says. Please don't take chances when you're sick. Laughter can be adopted as a part of your daily life but not as a cure for every illness.
How to incorporate laughter in your daily life?
Now you might be wondering how to laugh every day. Sometimes nothing funny happens around us. But I'm sure you laugh while watching cartoons and other funny stuff. Apart from that, how about picking a hilarious book for a good laugh?
Here's a list of books that will surely tickle your funny bone:
1. The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. by Jen Carney
2. Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
3. Duck on a Bike by David Shannon
4. Funny Side Up by Ruskin Bond
5. Tongue in Cheek: The Funny Side of Life by Khyrunnisa A.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab a funny book and laugh your head off! Happy World Laughter Day!
