Why So Serious?

Urgh.  I can never read that phrase without "hearing" it in the Joker's voice (shudder). 
Anywaaaay, I notice that a lot of the time on the forums I frequent for info on VSG, people sometimes take things a wee bit too seriously.  Don't get me wrong, I know this is a major life change, not to mention a major surgery, and it deserves respect and serious consideration.  I agree with all of that.  But every now and then I just want to reply to a thread with "LIGHTEN UP!"
Maybe it's just me. 

I love to joke around and look at life from a quirky perspective.  Laughter is something I adore, and to be honest, I don't indulge in it often enough, do you?  As a teacher, I have to be serious about educating.  I can't laugh when one of my students farts or makes a dorky face or a lame joke.  I have to be serious in an hour-long meeting every day and a 90-minute meeting 2x a month.  Gah.  It's no wonder I come home wound up as tight as Granddad's pocket watch.

Laughter is a stress release.  It sends endorphins flowing through our brains, which leads us to feel less depressed.  It helps us not to sweat the small stuff.  It opens our lungs for deeper breaths, which raises our blood oxygen levels, which is good for every cell of our bodies.  Go watch the YouTube video of quadruplets laughing at their dad's silly antics, or the one from Sweden, where a baby in a highchair can't stop laughing at his father's wacky noises.
If you can watch either of these without smiling and laughing along, seek help, your sense of humor, eet eez borked.

My favorite idea about laughter is the laughing clubs in India.  Have you seen these?  People gather every day, in the mornings before work, meeting in public parks.  They gather around a club leader who incites everyone to laugh on the count of three.  It starts off very forced:  "Ho. Ho. Ha. Ha. Ha," and becomes a mass gigglefest--probably because it's so ridiculous that you just can't help but laugh!  I think my workday would go along much more smoothly if I were able to have a good solid belly laugh beforehand, don't you?  

I think we could all benefit from learning to laugh more and get back in touch with the joy of having a good giggle!   Beyond the stress release, there's a good deal of support for the idea that laughing actually benefits our health.  You can read more about the ways laughter heals the body right here. 
Then go out and spread the giggles, chuckles and belly laughs!