Last year I came across an article on the health benefits of laughter. Advantages cited included lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormone levels, improves cardiac health, and my personal favorite—works your abs. Yes! Let’s get laughing!
I worked with civil engineers. Not that engineers aren’t fun or funny, but they are a serious bunch for the most part. There were times this introverted gal felt stretched to the max trying to be the outgoing one in the group.
One Monday morning, at a departmental staff meeting, the question was asked, “How was your weekend?” Everyone around the table gave a response. “Okay.” “Didn’t do much.” “Fine.” All very monotone and boring. I spoke last. I nearly jumped out of my chair, raised my arms into the air, and said, “Fantastic! I had a great weekend.” A couple of the engineers at the table nearly fell out of their chairs because of my exuberance. Rare for me to get that excited, but their dullness made me want to go back home and sleep. We needed a spark.
There’s one gentleman I worked with who was not an engineer. He was an extrovert. He kept us on our toes and worked our abs. A year ago, Stan (not his real name) posted on the company’s Intranet Out of Office board that he and his supervisor were traveling on a karaoke tour. This board is available to the entire company—almost 200 employees. I couldn’t let this opportunity pass without finding out more. I sent Stan an email and asked if the two men were slacking off on company time. He soon responded with, “Hold on. The boss is on stage singing now. I’ll get back to you later.” Instead of doing my work, I was laughing. My response, “Take a video. I want to see this.”
He didn’t send me a video on that day, but a few days later, his boss forwarded a video to me that Stan sent him. Stan wearing a fish head costume talking about feeling a little fishy. The boss’s response to Stan’s humor, “He’s goofier than my teenaged son.” He may have been goofy, but his humor was beneficial to my health.
The benefits of laughter are nothing new. Proverbs 17:22 states, “A joyful heart is good medicine…” (ESV) and “Being cheerful keeps you healthy…” (GNB).
Sounds like a great New Year’s resolution. Take time to laugh every day!
If you have a funny story you’d like to share, please do so in the comments below.