“Seven days without laughter makes one weak.” -Mort Walker
Why is it that we all think we need to be serious in order to achieve all of our goals each day? Who says we can’t be productive and crack a joke here and there? If we all knew how beneficial laughing is for our health, everyone we see encounter in our day would be consumed by an uncontrollable laugh attack. According to Dr. William Fry, 
associate professor of clinical psychiatry at Stanford University who has studied the effects of laughter for 30 years, laughter increases your heart rate and improves blood circulation while working muscles all over the body. He even compares laughter to “inner jogging” and claims that laughing 100 times a day is the equivalent of ten minutes of rowing. The author of Humor: Its Origin and Development suggests that humor can create a more relaxed atmosphere, encourage communication on sensitive matters, be a source of insight into conflict, help overcome a stiff and formal social style, and facilitate the acting out of feelings or impulses in a safe, non-threatening way. Laughter is also known for increasing endorphins which is the body’s natural painkiller and protector against depression. Clinical studies have shown that laughter decreases serum cortisol levels, increases T lymphocytes and increases the number of natural killer cells, therefore decreasing stress hormones and stimulating the immune system. Put simply, laughing can only lift your spirits and boost your health. Let’s try and view laughter from Milton Berle’s perspective and that is that “Laughter is an instant vacation.”
