I wrote about laughter being the best medicine last week, and I truly believe this to be true. Today in our society there is so many medications available if not over the counter, it isn’t that hard to get a prescription for whatever ails you. The pharmaceutical companies seem to thrive on people needing prescription drugs. Their profits continue to grow with no end in sight.
I believe it’s time for the American people to stand up, and to take a more positive approach to how they are living their lives. Throughout the day we are constantly being bombarded with TV commercials for one ailment or another. But in all honesty it’s not just prescription medications but many natural supplements as well. We are making everyone else rich except ourselves. We need to enrich our lives through more natural means that won’t cost you anything.
Laughter is one of the ones I wrote about the last time, and I’ll add additional thoughts in just a moment. But there are so many other ways to enrich your life, and it won’t cost you a thing. It will do more for you than any pills you take. Don’t throw your pills away just yet. You doctor has to agree with your renewed body.
I’m talking about meditation and prayer to help you have more peace and calm and less anxiety. I’m talking about exercise 5-6 times a week. I’m talking about nature walks or hiking. All these things are absolutely free and won’t cost you a cent, just a little of your time.
All these activities will make you feel good, because they all release endorphins and other positive chemicals that will bring more health to your body. There is a quote in the Bible “A merry heart does good like medicine.” Proverbs 17:22. Besides being full of cheerfulness, merry also means laughing happily even to the point of being hilarious. I believe God knew how important it was for us to laugh, to have playful fun in our much to serious lives.
Laughter is the great equalizer. It brings a sense of balance to our stressed our lives, and don’t forget how much it helped Norman Cousins extend his life an additional 20 years. We simply need to laugh more, and I definitely include myself in this category. There is no cost to laughter, it is absolutely free. In the long run I believe if we start laughing more like Norman Cousins we too will need less medication. The natural high from laughter will negate the unnatural high we might feel from certain medication or abuse of other substances that give us unnatural highs.
Laughter will lift your spirits if you are feeling a bit down. As you increase your laughter you will become more cheerful and will find yourself in a much better mood. So please, keep on laughing, it will do your body good. Until the next time, Godspeed. Carbie
The One-Minute Prisoner 