Let go, laugh: It will do your heart good

Native American healers believed in it as a cure for many disorders, both physical and spiritual. The Old Testament speaks of its importance in the healing process. The Egyptian pharaoh Ramses had three favorite cats whose antics brought it on for him.

What is it? It’s laughter. And we now know that all the references to laughter as a healer over the millennia do, indeed, have a scientific basis in fact. Laughter causes changes in the body that help relieve stress, lift depression, alleviate pain, trigger creativity and even prevent as well as cure disease by building and maintaining a strong immune system.

A niece who was a pediatric oncology nurse-practitioner told me how well her sick young patients did after being entertained by clowns. It was, she said, “like a miracle to see how they seemed to forget their pain and talk about getting well and going home.”

Too many people think of laughter as the lesser emotional expression compared with a “serious” approach to life. And, unfortunately, women, especially, have been traditionally expected to avoid displays of laughter in public as being undignified and maybe even morally suspect. Instead of believing the old bromide, “laugh and the world laughs with you,” little girls were too often taught “laugh and the world laughs at you.”

No wonder our female ancestors fainted so often: All that stress building up, and nowhere to release it. And no wonder so many of our friends turn to pills in lieu of fainting. And although one would hope we’ve moved beyond the strict interpretation of what ladylike behavior should be, the fact is, too many women still find it difficult to live on the funny side of life.