Velvet Verbosity

“Laughter, while it lasts, slackens and unbraces the mind, weakens the faculties and causes a kind of remissness and dissolution in all the powers of the soul; and thus it may be looked on as weakness in the composition of human nature. But if we consider the frequent reliefs we receive from it and how often it breaks the gloom which is apt to depress the mind and damp our spirits, with transient, unexpected gleams of joy, one would take care not to grow too wise for so great a pleasure of life.” -Joseph Addison

I found two different versions of the above Joseph Addison quote. (I hope it is obvious I was looking for quotes on laughter.) The first I came across had only the first sentence, and upon reading it, I thought to myself, “this Joseph Addison must’ve been one uptight dude”. A little more searching revealed the quote with the second sentence. Ah. Now that’s different. Funny that whoever posted the first version didn’t see the importance of including the second part. The part where this guy redeems himself. The part where you realize he’s not an uptight puritan who thinks laughter is bad for you (along with sex, running in bare feet on summer grass, or ice cream). So, it’s not Joseph Addison that’s the uptight dude, it’s clearly whoever posted his quote entirely out of context.

But seriously. Did your mother ever tell you that “laughter is the best medicine”? My mom did. Of course she always driveled such nonsense when I was in ridiculous amounts of pain, like the first time my heart was broken (thanks BW, I still owe you one). I failed to see the wisdom in that pithy little statement while I was wailing into my pillow. Now I’m older and wiser.

Ok. Maybe just older. Cut me some slack, I’m getting there.

Consider the positive benefits highlighted at bellylaughday:

• Even looking forward to having a good laugh can boost your immune system and reduce stress. University of California-Irvine study shows that even knowing you will be involved in a positive humorous event days in advance reduces levels of stress hormones in the blood and increases levels of chemicals known to aid relaxation.
• Laughter appears to cause the tissue that forms the inner lining of blood vessels, the endothelium, to dilate or expand in order to increase blood flow.
• Playful laughing fuels positive energy, creativity and connection.
• Boosts immune functions.
• Increase’s pain tolerance.
• Exercises facial, abdominal and chest muscles.
• Oxygenates the blood.
• Improves brain functioning.
  We are more alert, creative, we think better after a laugh.
• Laughing changes our mood. Boosts Positive Emotions.
• Laughing mixed together with the positive emotions of humor,
  and happiness lowers the stress hormones, corticosteroids and epinephrine. The release of growth hormone and endorphins plays a role in lowering the stress hormones.

Even activating the smiling muscles has good benefits. What did Addison have to say about smiling?

“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.”

To think I almost wrote this guy off as a cynic.

(Image brought to you by http://www.laughternetwork.co.uk/laughter.html)