I received this message from Mark McWhorter (those of you not on brother Mark's e-mailing list should concider signing up). To sign up send him a note requesting your name be added to his e-mail list. mtmcvb@centurytel.net


Proverbs 17:22—"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

Laughing is good for you even if it does begin with the release of adrenaline and other stress hormones.

Whether you are tickled or reacting to a good joke, at least seven different centers in the brain react in various ways. Your response begins with the release of stress hormones. Your normal breathing rhythm gets interrupted and various neurotransmitters, including dopamine are released. And, yes, your brain also interprets the tickle so that you cannot tickle yourself since your brain knows when your own fingers are involved. Scientists also believe that as you begin laughing, your saliva glands begin to secrete extra immune compounds. Antibodies and virus killing T-cells are also released in larger doses. Your heart beats also increase and your blood pressure goes up to support the muscle spasms that result from your laugh. Those muscle spasms are actually a good aerobic exercise. In fact, one minute of a good laugh is said to be as good as ten minutes of exercise on a rowing machine!

Besides promoting social bonds, laughing is indeed good for you in many ways. Tickling is common way that parents bond with their young children. And wholesome humor can cheer the heart and raise the spirits. Moreover, while laughing appears to have no evolutionary advantage, it is easily explained as a gift of God to raise our spirits. ["I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." (Psalms 139:14).]

[O.K.—Jeff's says since laughing is good medicine here is a joke to make you laugh, or at least grin really big—"Once upon a time long, long ago there was a snail slithering down a rocky path. I don't know the snail's name, so we'll call him Gary. After Gary had slithered approximately two feet down this rocky path two turtles attacked Gary, steeling all his recess money. The police were called to the scene of the crime, and ask Gary to give them a description of the two turtles. Gary said, "Officers I hope you understand; I really, really wish I could help you out, but it all just happened so fast—sorry."] haaahhaaaaaheeeeehaaaaaheeee...

Ignore the second Post...My PC skills are very limited...and this cyber space stuff is kind'a confusing to a red neck like myself... Yep, you might just be a red neck if you don't know how to post properly on brosonnie's web site.
Jeff Grimes