“I Laugh, I Live.”


Bob Hope (100), George Burns (100), Phyllis Diller (95), Betty White (99), Carl Reiner (98), Milton Berle (93), and Jerry Lewis (91). These comedians lived long, funny lives. Norman Lear, Mel Brooks, and Dick Van Dyke are either 100 or just about to become a centenarian. Maybe “laughter is the best medicine.”

The Mayo Clinic cites the following health benefits from laughter: stress relief, stimulates many organs due to your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates circulation, improves your immune system, is a natural painkiller, and improves your mood. It’s also a pro-social activity, so it connects you with others.

Last month, I was on a conference speakers panel with Dani Klein Modisett, who founded “Laughter on Call.” If you’re looking for a way to bring humor to a team (or maybe your next family reunion), check out Dani’s website. You might have a lot of fun while adding a few months to your life.

As I write this, I’m trying to have a sense of humor about the fact that my doctor is running 30 minutes late to see me, and I’m being subjected to a non-stop Neil Sedaka/Barry Manilow music festival from a local radio station. However, suffering through “Laughter in the Rain” and “Looks Like We Made It” is probably just what the doctor ordered. By the time I hear his news (whatever that may be), it can only get better.

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