Laughter is the Best Medicine

Sophie Scott, a neuroscientist reports that when we laugh, we use an "ancient evolutionary system that mammals have evolved to make and maintain social bonds and regulate emotions." This is not the polite laughter we learn how to employ when a dad tells a joke. This is that laugh-until-you-cry laughter. I remember one holiday meal with the McBeans and Owens; collectively our kids are pretty funny and terribly irreverent. I recall how Pete's mom laughed so often and so long that I could not decide what was more fun - the good company or Marion's wonderful response to the stories and memories shared around that holiday meal. Laughter reminds our body that all is well; it closes that dang loop!

When was the last time you laughed until your sides hurt? How can we get some of that back into our lives?