First off, I hope you already have a grin on your face after viewing the photo above. A candid shot I took of my father and my brother in the midst of a genuine laugh. The image was taken on my black and white film camera given to me from my dad so the precise timing on this photo wasn't the easiest to capture. But the happiness and joy in this photo brings back memories of Thanksgiving in New York and the light these two fellas bring to my life.
A few weeks ago I attended my first comedy show in Grand Rapids to watch my friend AJ perform. Now I have watched countless videos of comedians online but as I was listening to the comedian onstage and the people around me there was something about the energy and vibe of the room that got me thinking about laughter.
Laughing isn't something that is typically analyzed at the end of the day. One may ask 'How many times did you eat today or did you hug someone today?' But laughing is something that is uncontrollable at times and comes naturally. Laughter is a trait that carries through all humans, doesn't matter the gender, religion, age, or culture. A good laugh can be shared among anyone. Laughing creates a shared bond among people and brings them together.
To me laughing should be a huge part of your daily life. When you are laughing it means your smiling and that smile will surely bring a smile to someone else's face as well - it's contagious. A good dose of laughter can decrease stress, increase blood flow, induce a positive emotional state and so much more! Laughter is good for your health and signals a positive bond among large groups of people. Basically, there are no downsides to laughter, and we should attempt to do it freely and more often!
As I am sitting in the audience of the comedian show I can't help with notice the unique display of laughs coming from the audience. There is among us the range of loud laughers who feel they must be heard to the tiny gigglers who might fear the attention their laugh will bring them. I have categorized a few laughs I have encountered in my life during different situations, see where your laugh falls.
The Nervous laugh: We have all used the nervous laugh to fill an awkward situation. During times of anxiety, we often laugh in a subconscious attempt to reduce stress and calm down. However, nervous laughter usually just heightens the awkwardness of the situation.
The Belly laugh: The most honest type of laughs. The feeling that you might pee your pants from laughing so hard and are grasping for air. The belly laugh tends to last a while causing a true genuine laugh.
The Snort laugh: We have all been there... when a tiny snort sneaks out while you are laughing.
The Gigglers: Tiny torso movement, a wrinkling of the face and small grin. A giggler displays an amount of shyness, or a desire to be seen as ‘good’.
So I leave you with this, Have you laughed today? No, I don’t mean a sarcastic snicker, or texting LOL to a friend. I mean a real, lung squeezing, belly shaking, eye watering, I-almost-peed-my-pants kind of laugh! While laughing at your favorite movie is better than nothing, the best quality laughter happens in the company of others. Go forth, and make someone laugh today! #MakeEmLaugh
A few weeks ago I attended my first comedy show in Grand Rapids to watch my friend AJ perform. Now I have watched countless videos of comedians online but as I was listening to the comedian onstage and the people around me there was something about the energy and vibe of the room that got me thinking about laughter.
Laughing isn't something that is typically analyzed at the end of the day. One may ask 'How many times did you eat today or did you hug someone today?' But laughing is something that is uncontrollable at times and comes naturally. Laughter is a trait that carries through all humans, doesn't matter the gender, religion, age, or culture. A good laugh can be shared among anyone. Laughing creates a shared bond among people and brings them together.
To me laughing should be a huge part of your daily life. When you are laughing it means your smiling and that smile will surely bring a smile to someone else's face as well - it's contagious. A good dose of laughter can decrease stress, increase blood flow, induce a positive emotional state and so much more! Laughter is good for your health and signals a positive bond among large groups of people. Basically, there are no downsides to laughter, and we should attempt to do it freely and more often!
As I am sitting in the audience of the comedian show I can't help with notice the unique display of laughs coming from the audience. There is among us the range of loud laughers who feel they must be heard to the tiny gigglers who might fear the attention their laugh will bring them. I have categorized a few laughs I have encountered in my life during different situations, see where your laugh falls.
The Nervous laugh: We have all used the nervous laugh to fill an awkward situation. During times of anxiety, we often laugh in a subconscious attempt to reduce stress and calm down. However, nervous laughter usually just heightens the awkwardness of the situation.
The Belly laugh: The most honest type of laughs. The feeling that you might pee your pants from laughing so hard and are grasping for air. The belly laugh tends to last a while causing a true genuine laugh.
The Snort laugh: We have all been there... when a tiny snort sneaks out while you are laughing.
The Gigglers: Tiny torso movement, a wrinkling of the face and small grin. A giggler displays an amount of shyness, or a desire to be seen as ‘good’.
So I leave you with this, Have you laughed today? No, I don’t mean a sarcastic snicker, or texting LOL to a friend. I mean a real, lung squeezing, belly shaking, eye watering, I-almost-peed-my-pants kind of laugh! While laughing at your favorite movie is better than nothing, the best quality laughter happens in the company of others. Go forth, and make someone laugh today! #MakeEmLaugh