![\"smile](\"https:\/\/wp-media.beliefnet.com\/sites\/100\/2013\/03\/smile-therapy-300x225.jpg\")
When was the last time you had a side-splitting belly laugh?\u00a0 A tear inducing, stomach aching, diaphragm exercising laugh?\u00a0 I can tell you when I did, for sure, because I was ever so grateful for it, into it, aware of it and one with it!<\/p>\n
It was a mere 10 days ago.\u00a0 I was floating happily, dog-paddling, bobbing up and down, swirling around in the most magnificent pool on this planet.\u00a0 (Well maybe it’s not, but it sure feels that way to me!)<\/em>\u00a0 Someone said something funny (probably me, ’cause I tend toward funny),<\/em> and just as the funny hit the air, my friend, Betsy (you may have heard me mention her before–she’s a great cook and “my” best Gazpacho recipe<\/a> hails from her kitchen)<\/em> floated past me within earshot and started to laugh.<\/p>\n Betsy has an infectious laugh, a magnificent laugh and I caught it.\u00a0 And then she caught my laughter, and upped the ante, and we played the chortles back n’ forth, more and more hysterical with each volley, until we were hurting and crying!\u00a0 Ahhhh…shared lunacy, sheer happiness!\u00a0 Simply delicious!<\/p>\n Laughter not only promotes happiness, as the body responds to it by releasing dopamine (one of the happiness hormones<\/em>), but it boosts the immune system and reduces pain and stress!\u00a0 Laughter promotes good health by warding off anger and aggression, and it communicates good will.<\/p>\n Assuming you’d like to laugh, too, here, from Our Lady of Weight Loss<\/a>, she who is dedicated to “lightness,” nine tips that she believes will activate your humor gene!<\/p>\n 1.\u00a0 Keep an Eye Out and an Ear Open for Humor.<\/em> \u00a0 There are all kinds of absurd, silly things going on around you all day long. A friend recently reported seeing a sign outside a local church: \u201cDon\u2019t let worries kill you. Let the church help.\u201d (Come on \u2013 that\u2019s funny and it was right there in front of her!)<\/em><\/p>\n 2. Invest in a joke book.<\/em> Weave one-liners into your conversation. I\u2019m not gaining weight; I\u2019m retaining food!<\/p>\n 3. Find yourself a funny friend or two.<\/em> Or better yet, do as my husband did (lucky man), find yourself a funny partner.<\/p>\n 4. Trade in coffee breaks (smoking breaks) for humor breaks.<\/em> Tell your boss that in lieu of smoking, you\u2019re cultivating your funny side and will henceforth be taking a humor break twice daily. I\u2019m sure he or she will find that very amusing!<\/p>\n 5. If you hear it \u2013 write it<\/em>. If someone says something funny, write it down. You can use it later on someone else! You know, pass the laughter forward!<\/p>\n 6. Put a post-it on your refrigerator, your computer and bathroom mirror<\/em>. \u201cSlim down while you laugh it up.\u201d It may take a few weeks before it becomes a habit.<\/p>\n 7. Eliminate late night sadness.<\/em> Do not under any circumstances watch the news or read the newspaper or partake in anything that makes you feel sad or unhappy late at night. It\u2019s a sure buzz kill. Sweet dreams require sweet thoughts.<\/p>\n 8. Fake it till you make it!<\/em>\u00a0 Smile and laugh even if you\u2019re feeling miserable. Your brain will pick up on the smile cue and feel better.<\/p>\n 9. Sign up for a Kick in the Tush<\/em><\/a>!\u00a0 Our Lady of Weight Loss’s (almost) weekly e-newsletter is side-splitting funny!<\/p>\n For more chortles, giggles and laughs, visit Our Lady’s club:\u00a0 Facebook\/Kick in the Tush Club<\/a>!<\/p>\n Spread the word \u2026 NOT the icing,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Janice Taylor<\/strong><\/em> Dictated but not read by OLWL.\u00a0 Excuse all typos! When was the last time you had a side-splitting belly laugh?\u00a0 A tear inducing, stomach aching, diaphragm exercising laugh?\u00a0 I can tell you when I did, for sure, because I was ever so grateful for it, into it, aware of it and one with it! It was a mere 10 days ago.\u00a0 I was floating…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,1881,2793,70,82,60,978,1,176,2100,369,2511],"tags":[2809,671,3826,3827,1827,3825,3035,8,3837,3885],"class_list":["post-4926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-happiness","category-happiness-coach","category-happiness-tips-2","category-janice-taylor","category-kick-in-the-tush-club","category-our-lady-of-weight-loss","category-the-happiness-diet","category-weight-loss","category-weight-loss-coach-2","category-weight-loss-success-coach","category-weight-loss-tips-2","category-weight-loss-wisdom","tag-best-weight-loss-tips","tag-how-to-lose-weight","tag-janice-taylor","tag-kick-in-the-tush-club","tag-laughter-therapy","tag-our-lady-of-weight-loss","tag-smile-therapy","tag-weight-loss-coach","tag-weight-loss-motivation","tag-weight-loss-wisdom"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n wise * fun * utterly useful<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
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\nFor the best life, wellness and weight loss wisdom, visit Janice:
\n<\/a>Our Lady of Weight Loss<\/a><\/em><\/strong>
\nsign up for the\u00a0Kick in the Tush Club<\/em><\/a> e-letter
\njoin and chat: Kick in the Tush Club\/Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"