Laughter

“I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose.” The quote from Woody Allen describes the condition that triggers the release of endorphins, our natural feel-good chemicals that promote a sense of well-being and have also been shown to relieve pain. It also triggers the release of milk from one’s nostrils but never mind.

flickr.cc.2.0/photos/chrishuggins

The fact is a deep, belly laugh can cut the tension in a room or in your own muscles and leave you relaxed for up to 45 minutes. According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter has characteristics similar to those that I wrote about on drumming. It can decrease stress hormones, give a boost to our immune system and therefore, make us less susceptible to disease. Laughter also improves the function of blood vessels which protects against heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

There have been countless times during my life when I’ve dropped into uncontrollable laughter. Most recently, I snorted out loud at a spiritual ceremony in the rain at Machu Picchu but when I was younger, I got sent to the back of the room during Girl Scouts and swat on the rump by my dad during a family event. Though these may have been times when laughter was inappropriate, they make the best stories and hold some of my fondest memories of laughter that I won’t forget.

Laughter isn’t just something that I can call forth on demand. I have to be provoked. So what’s the best way to do that?

Methods to call forth laughter

• Go to a comedy club
• Watch a funny movie or TV show.
• Share some ridiculous embarrassing stories from your youth.
• Read a funny book. My husband cried through Bill Bryson’s hiking book.
• Look at Gary Larsen cartoons.
• Seek out funny people – someone who makes you laugh or even those who are good for a chuckle.
• Goof around with your kids.
• Do something outside your comfort zone like hot yoga or karaoke with a friend.
• Host a costume party.
• Do something really silly.

Having a sense of humor, the ability to convey and enjoy what is comical or bizarre is not only a good attribute, it’s a gift. When facing sadness, pain or sickness, there is no simpler or cheaper way to cope. Laughter is both magnetic and contagious. It can can truly lessen our grief and help retain our good health and yes, sometimes it causes milk to squirt from your nose.

What makes you laugh?

And now for the real funny stuff, DH and I have decided to become raw vegans for the month of August. Those of you who may know him are already in an uncontrollable fit. This recipe comes to us via Hannah at wayfaringchocolate.com.

Raw Zucchini Pasta with Marinara Sauce

Serves 4
Adapted from Girl On Raw

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup chopped red capsicum
• 1 cup packed fresh parsley (or basil, if you have it on hand)
• Slightly under 1 cup semi-dried tomatoes
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 4 pitted Medjool dates
• 4 tb thyme-infused extra virgin olive oil which was a much-appreciated thank you gift from your grandparents for having watered their garden and not killed their plants. Or, you know, whatever olive oil you have in your pantry.
• chopped bird’s eye chilli, to taste
• salt and pepper
• dash apple cider vinegar (which I completely forgot, but I’m putting it in the ingredients list because I think it’d be great)
• 1 large zucchini, spiralised

1. Place all ingredients (bar the zucchini) in a food processor and pulse until everything is mixed but not pureed, as you want the sauce to retain some texture. Or, if you’re me, use an immersion blender on the ingredients as they sit together in a large bowl. This will cause red and green flecks of tastiness to leap out of the bowl and come to rest in your ringlets, but it’ll all work out eventually.

2. Top the spiralized zucchini with the marinara sauce.

Posted by Tammy on August 4, 2011

https://agrigirl.com/2011/08/04/laughter/