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I've been noticing how serious people are lately. This includes myself! When I look around at peoples faces there is a hardness to them and a furrow in their brow, even when they are relaxed. There is much fear and separation occurring among people now-a-days that is exasperated by the media, the economy, relationships and everyday stress. Where is the laughter and the joy, the love and compassion?
One day a friend took me white water rafting on a day even though he thought the water would be calm because the Rio Grande was so low since there hadn't been much rain. We put the raft in the water somewhere up near Pilar, New Mexico, I think. It was a typical beautiful sunny day in Northern New Mexico with wildlife flitting through the sparse brush along the river. My breath was carried along with a light breeze just like the various birds that were riding the wind currents in the gorge. As we silently floated the river, I felt a deep sense of calm and connection with the surrounding environment. It was a must needed respite from my daily work week.
As we continued down the river we rarely saw any other people which added to my sense of meditation and communion with nature. Not long into our float, the river began to become more active, and the water began to get more exciting. We floated through various rapids that became even wilder and my heart started to race as the water tossed us up and down. There was times when I thought one of us would be popped out of the boat! To our surprise and delight the water was raging since it was so low! The rapids were getting progressively closer together and as we paddled hard through them I found I could not stop laughing! I laughed almost the whole time through this trip and I found myself thinking, "When was the last time I had laughed this hard?" Oddly, I couldn't remember!
I know this will make me sound like a crazy person but I am going to write it anyway. Sometimes, when I feel down, I will look at myself in the mirror and force myself to laugh. This is so ridiculous that I find myself laughing so hard for real after a short time. I will laugh until my belly jiggles and my cheeks hurt! When I am done, my whole energy field shifts into a lighter sense of being. I then, feel happy, like a little girl with no cares what-so-ever!
Laughing is good medicine as it is said! It reduces stress instantly by reducing the hormones cortisol and adrenaline. It opens our heart to receive more joy and love, makes us attractive to others and brings people together. Laughter is contagious and everyone has a unique laugh. Hearing others laugh will stimulate our own laughter response. When we let ourselves go into the ecstasy of laughter, we exercise our facial muscles, abdominals and diaphragm, blood flow increases bringing more oxygen to our cells and tissues. It helps us to relax and let go of all our seriousness, making us feel better in an all around general way!
So how do we bring more laughter into our life? Be silly and child-like and let go of the idea that we must be perfect and proper always! Do things you wouldn't ordinarily do. I like to gather a small group of friends and go bowling or roller skating! We also lay down on the floor together, each placing their head on another's belly and start laughing. As heads start to bounce, the laughing becomes real and uncontrollable! Watching comedies, playing silly interactive board games and just being outrageous helps promote the contagion of laughter. There is now such an activity called laughing yoga which is taking India by storm!
I dare you to start laughing right now to see what happens!
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More articles by Karuna DiLibero
Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/Karuna-DiLibero-20737/laughter-249736.php
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