When was the last time you laughed out loud? Are we getting too serious as we age? I hope not!
The world is not a happy place at the moment and it is easy to fall into negative thoughts and despair. I’m not suggesting we don’t acknowledge the devastating experiences of those living in Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, Russia. I cannot begin to imagine what life is like and I’m brought to tears watching the nightly news reports.
For me, these horrors make me realise just how very lucky I am to live in Australia and I feel so grateful and blessed. I am also extremely grateful to be enjoying a trip to Amsterdam plus a Rhine River Cruise as this post goes LIVE.
It’s time for this month’s Tell Us About…. a link up hosted by some lovely ladies (including me) from all over the world. You can see who they are at the end of the post and I encourage you to visit their blogs and check out what they have written for this month’s prompt.
Each month one of the members selects a topic/prompt and this month it is Tell Us About……Laughter. This month’s prompt was suggested by the lovely Gail from Is This Mutton? and it made me pause and ask myself – how often do I really laugh?
Laughter & feeling connected – why it is so important
Laughter and feeling connected are so important to our mental health and wellbeing – especially as we age.
Research has shown that laughter is good for us physically, mentally and spiritually. It reduces stress, increases our sense of well being and lifts our moods. There are even laughter groups to encourage people to laugh and feel good.
The Mayo Clinic writes that data is increasing to show the health benefits of laughter. A post on their website, Stress Relief from Laughter – It’s no joke suggests:
When you start to laugh, it doesn’t just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body.
If you follow my blog, you will know that I write about all topics to Live Well and Enjoy life and in particular around the area of Health & Wellness. Laughter and feeling connected is an important aspect of this.
Laughter IS REALLY HEALTHY FOR YOU and I don’t do it as often as I should. I do smile a lot though!
Laughter is contagious and that’s one contagion I want to attract
Have you noticed that if someone is laughing you just can’t help smiling or laughing too?
The Different types of Laughter
There are many different types of laughter, each with its own unique characteristics. Here are a few examples – which one do you have? I would love to have a wonderful ‘Belly laugh’ but I have to say I’m more of a Giggler or Chuckler.
- Giggle: A soft, light-hearted laugh that often conveys amusement or delight. It is usually associated with a sense of innocence or playfulness.
- Chuckling: A quiet, restrained laugh characterized by short, repeated bursts of sound. Chuckling is often a response to something mildly amusing or funny.
- Belly laugh: A deep, hearty laugh that comes from the diaphragm and involves the entire body. It is often associated with uncontrollable laughter and is usually a response to something extremely funny.
- Snicker: A stifled or suppressed laugh characterized by short, muffled sounds. Snickering is often associated with hidden delight or mischievousness.
- Guffaw: A loud, boisterous laugh that is often sudden and explosive. Guffawing is usually a response to something unexpected or outrageously funny.
- Chortle: A combination of a chuckle and a snort, chortling is a gleeful, slightly breathy laugh. It is often associated with a sense of amusement or satisfaction.
- Cackling: A high-pitched, shrill laugh that is often associated with wickedness or evil. Cackling is commonly used to portray villains or characters with mischievous intentions.
- Cachinnation: a loud and hysterical laugh that is often uncontrollable
- Cruel Laughter: laughing at others misfortune (not a type of laugh I would like to have)
- Nervous Laughter: During times of anxiety, we often laugh in a subconscious attempt to reduce stress and calm down. It’s sort of a mature defense mechanism
Remember, the way people laugh can vary greatly depending on their personality and cultural background. Each type of laughter brings its own unique expression of joy and amusement, adding to the rich tapestry of human emotions. So go ahead and let the laughter flow!
Everybody laughs the same in every language because laughter is a universal connection.
Jakob Smirnoff
Feeling connected with others adds to the richness of my life.
Family connections are not always what we wish for. There is a saying that ‘You can choose your friends but not your family’. This is true for many, however feeling connected is not restricted to family. Friends are just as important and in some cases can mean a closer connection than with our family members.
As we age, it can be so easy to withdraw especially in our later years but staying connected keeps us mentally active and feeling a sense of being part of something.
I love my Book Club friends who I met through blogging Donna from Retirement Reflections, Deb from Deb’s World and Jo from And Anyways. We always have such fun when we catch up and I feel uplifted after each meeting.
It’s healthy to be able to laugh at yourself – don’t take yourself too seriously.
Like many women, I have always struggled with self-esteem but at 66 I’ve learned that being myself includes being able to laugh at myself as well. I posted this image on FB a couple of years ago and it felt good being able to feel confident enough not to worry what I looked like.
6 Ways to bring more laughter into your life
Laughter is a powerful tool that can bring joy and positivity into your life. Here are a few ways you can incorporate more laughter:
- Watch a Comedy Show or Movie: Tune in to a funny TV show or movie that tickles your funny bone. Laughter is contagious, and you’ll find yourself chuckling along in no time.
- Spend Time with Funny People: Surround yourself with friends or family members who have a great sense of humor. Their witty remarks and funny stories will keep you laughing and uplift your mood.
- Share Jokes or Memes: Engage in light-hearted humor by sharing jokes or funny memes with your friends and loved ones. It’s a fun way to connect and bring some laughter into their lives too.
- Try Laughter Yoga: Yes it really does exist. Laughter Yoga is a unique exercise that combines laughter and deep breathing. Join a laughter yoga class or practice it at home to reap its benefits and improve your overall well-being.
- Embrace Playfulness: Don’t take yourself too seriously. Allow yourself to be silly and embrace your inner child. Engage in playful activities like dancing, singing. My grandsons keep me grounded and in the moment of playfulness and having fun.
- Cultivate a Positive Outlook: Look for the humor in everyday situations and try not to dwell on negative thoughts. Developing a positive mindset can help you find laughter even in challenging times.
A laugh is a smile that bursts.
Mary H. Waltdrip
Remember, laughter is an essential part of life, and by actively seeking opportunities to bring more laughter into your life, you’ll experience the many benefits it has to offer. So go ahead, laugh out loud, and enjoy the lighter side of life!
When was the last time you had a good ‘belly laugh’? Can’t remember? You don’t know what you are missing.
Tell Us About….Contributors
Gail from Is This Mutton – Find her post at https://www.isthismutton.com
Deb from Deb’s World (Australia) – Find her post at https://www.debs-world.com
Leslie from Once Upon a Time, Happily Ever After – Find her post at https://onceuponatimehappilyeverafter.com/
Suzy from The Grey Brunette (Brit living in Portugal) – Find her post at https://www.thegreybrunette.com/
Marsha, from Marsha In the Middle – Find her post at https://marshainthemiddle.com/ .
Penny from Frugal Fashion Shopper – Find her post at https://frugalfashionshopper.co.uk/
9 Comments
Fabulous post Sue! I agree we need to laugh more, it does us good to laugh and smile and releases all sorts of benefits in our bodies. Love that photo of us four 🙂
Sue, this is so good! I love that last quote! My last belly laugh…I really can’t remember though I do laugh a lot. I think I’m more a chortler than a belly laugher!
You probably wouldn’t know it from my blog, but I have never been afraid to be silly. When I was teaching, I let my students see me in all my many forms! If I was sad, I cried. If I was happy, I smiled. If I was delighted, I chortled. And, was I goofy to not only release tension but to grab my students’ attention…you’d better believe it! I think laughter is often the key to making connections which leads to learning!
Thanks for all the key points here, Sue! I love seeing your photos on the ‘Gram!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Hi, Sue, I LOVE this post. The opening photo put a huge smile on my face — and my smile continued to grow from there the further that I read. I am also greatly enjoying following your trip away! <3
Laughter is certainly so good for us! Loved this post Sue. Who knew there were so many forms of laughter? I can remember all the times I had a really good belly laugh!
You and I are on similar paths this prompt. I do think there’s something special in the sharing of laughter. And I hope you have a fabulous trip. Look forwared to the pics!
For many of us in the western world, there is so much bot be grateful for and so many reasons to laugh! We definitely tend to get too serious at times. I laugh out loud most Saturday nights when we play music in a pub – we have a friend with us who plays various percussion instruments and he is so easy-going and makes it so much fun, we have good laughs several times those nights!
Excellent post, Sue! The physical benefits are undeniable. I’m leaving in a week on a river cruise myself, and will look forward to comparing notes!
This is a great reminder Sue to realise what we can be grateful for and also to reflect that back with fun and laughter. I do think that sometimes the Western world, with its obsession with busyness, stops us from taking time to laugh. As you say laughter is so good for us and helps to relieve stress.
So many different types of laughter. And almost all beneficial. My ex-husband was a master at making fun of people. I was one of his favorite targets, of course. And his laughter was often very cruel and at someone else’s expense. I am guilty of a nervous titter when I am in an uncomfortable situation. I am trying to be more conscious of that, though. My sister just cracks me up – no one makes me laugh harder. I was gasping for breath today Facetiming with her as we attempted to paint cardinal birds on a snowy branch. Have mercy. We are no Rembrandts. Ha!! But gosh, we had fun.