When was the last time you had a good belly laugh? A time when you practically convulsed with loud, uproarious laughs so that strangers around you turned and stared at you wondering what on earth was so funny. We've all had those moments...but do we have them now? Do we find life full of fun when we're in our eighties and feel burdened with all our hardships and challenges?
The other day a friend of mine was walking to breakfast in the community dining room of our retirement center when a gentleman hastily approached her. "Excuse me, but you have a tail hanging down."
My friend was startled. "A tail? But I don't have a tail," she blurted. And then she quickly moved her hand around and to her astonishment grabbed a piece of soft pink cotton. "That's my pajamas! They were caught in my dress pants!" She held up her beautiful pink nightwear and laughed with glee.
She retold her story to a group of us later and our table rang with laughter. We were not laughing at her but with her. She was not embarrassed. She wanted to share her hilarious story with everyone.
I looked around our table as the eight of us were laughing so hard conversation was impossible as we pictured in our minds our lovely 91 year old friend walking down the hall and into the dining room with her lovely pink pajamas floating like a wagging tail behind her.
Here we were in our eighties and nineties, men and women, all with some kind of physical or emotional or mental struggle, now bound together in a joyous moment of roaring laughter with tears of joy running down our cheeks. How wonderful to be united in a few moments of utter free fun. Macular degeneration, dementia, arthritis, cancer, Parkinson tremors, chronic pain, asthma, grief all disappeared in our laughter.
Just this past week Dick and I had an occasion to be laughing with sheer thankful joy! Driving out the parking lot of a local store I touched my ear and suddenly realized I had lost an earring! Utter calamity! Quickly turned the car back to the same spot we had parked and there on the black macadam we saw our apartment keys! (Another potential calamity!) Dick had probably dropped them as he pulled the car keys from his pocket. Then we entered the store and searched. I was about to give up, but then, the store clerk suddenly announced, "Here it is!" Was on the floor! My favorite gold and pink dangly earring danced in the light. We kept laughing with grateful hearts all the way home. Surely this was 'a God thing'.
Yes, laughter is the best medicine! Science proves that laughter relieves physical stress. Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter triggers release of endorphins which are the body's feel good chemicals. Laughter protects the heart by increasing blood flow. Laughter burns calories. (Oh, I really like that one!) Laughter may even help you live longer!
Also, you can't be anxious, angry or sad when you're laughing. A laugh or a simple smile can help you feel better. That's why social interaction is so important. I know I've experienced times when I've been deeply concerned about something. Than I walk into a room filled with friends who are laughing and smiling which triggers me to join them with a smile and a chuckle.
Now let's be honest about smiles. What a simple thing to do, SMILE! Yet it seems that a lot of senior citizens don't smile very much. When your computer gives you trouble, when you stand for 20 minutes in the check-out at the super market, when you walk out to your car in freezing temperatures with snowflakes hitting your face, do you smile? Even though the challenge is there, a smile or chuckle removes your stress and anxiety. Try it!
Yes, the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes tells us in chapter 3: 1 "For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven." Then verse 4 "a time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn and a time to dance". Laughter is one of the precious gifts God has given us, so let us smile and laugh and bring joy to our souls. As we gather around our Thanksgiving tables let laughter ring. God created the heavens and the earth and pronounced it "very good". Rejoice and be thankful for His goodness.
