Laughter is the Best Medicine

“Laughter and orgasm are great bedfellows.” ~John Callahan

Laugh every day — They say laughter is the best medicine and I couldn't agree more. Laughter releases endorphins, the same ones we release when we exercise and the same ones we release when we orgasm. That euphoric feeling that makes your body thrum, your head clear and your spirits lift, comes from the same place your laughter comes from. So when was the last time you laughed? You may rob yourself of an orgasm (which I don't recommend) but you should never rob yourself of your sense of humor. Without it, life is not just dull, it can be downright unbearable. 

“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” ~Charlie Chaplin

Be the master of your own happiness — I was talking to my daughter about how difficult it is to be a friend at times, especially when we see our friends unhappy and can't do anything to change it. Sure we can crack a joke, tell a funny anecdote, redirect their thoughts to something else for a little while but at the end of the day, we can't be the happiness that our friends need. 

I see so many people put their faith, their heart and their entire happiness on another human being then be completely heartbroken when that person walks out of their life. Human beings are fallible. There are none righteous, the Bible says and there are none that are perfect. It is our ability to be fallible that makes us so interesting, intricate and amazing. 

Never trust your heart, your wallet or your happiness to another human being. They'll break it, rob it or run off with it. Your entire reason for living cannot be another human being -- not even your children. People die every second of every day and if tomorrow everything and everyone you held dear is taken from you, you would still need to get on with life. Giving it up, to me at least, is not an option.

“The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be." ~Marcel Pagnol

Life and laughter are precious gifts, don't waste them — Laughter, to me, is as important to life as oxygen is to your lungs. Yes, there will be times when even cracking a smile will be difficult or damn near impossible. If your past was unbearable and unhappy, guess what? You still have today... and tomorrow's on the horizon. You have the power to make tomorrow a happier day than yesterday was. Dwelling on your failures, those who hurt you in the past, things you no longer have control over are as futile as riding a bicycle on flat wheels.

Why do you think books like James M. Barrie's Peter Pan were written? To help us remember that even in the middle of a war, we can escape to our own Neverland with the help of a little pixie dust and a happy thought. Yes, it can be considered escapism but isn't that what Calgon's trying to sell you anyway? Make every second a Calgon moment and find a happy thought to help you fly.

“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” ~Albert Einstein

What are your goals for this year? For this month? For this week? Have you written them down? How do you plan to accomplish these things?

Set a daily goal to be happy — Make this goal your top priority. Do something for yourself that will bring you happiness today and enjoy that moment so that you can recall that happy memory when you're in the depths of despair. Don't count on someone else to make you happy or wait for that special someone to bring a smile to your face. Be the happiness you want from others and you'll see how contagious it is. 

“This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature. Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you. Take the power to make your life happy.” ~Susan Polls Schutz