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!

In a shameless act of reposting something funny that I read elsewhere on the 'net, I will now shamelessly repost something funny that I read elsewhere on the 'net. 
In the interest of full disclosure, it's from a blog on the verticalsleevetalk.com website, called "Gastric Sleeve Surgery - An Unexpected Journey", where the blogger was relaying great comeback-answers for how to explain weight loss surgery scars to any busybodies you may encounter post-op.  They were giggleworthy enough that I had to share a few of my favorites!

So where'd you get those scars?

"The first rule of Fight Club is 'don't talk about Fight Club'."

"Remember when your mom told you not to run with scissors?"

 "I was at this party with Marilyn Manson and everyone was giving out hugs."

"Oh these? Hmm, I dunno, they’ve just always been there. Well, I mean, ever since I took over this body, anyway. Strange, don’t you think?"

And my #1 favorite...*drum roll*

"Tell them you are trying to avenge your father and ask if they have six fingers on their right hand."

I swear, I WILL use that one, at any given opportunity.  YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

If you are a pre-or post-sleever, do check out www.verticalsleevetalk.com, it's a great community with lots of friendly people who are willing to share their stories with us noobs.  Can't have too much of that, can ya? Got any snarky comebacks like those above to share?  There's always room for some playful snark at my table--post the snappy patter below in the comments section!