The Healing Power of Laughter

There is proof that laughter is beneficial. Norman Cousins wrote a book titled Anatomy of an Illness that became a groundbreaking best-seller about combating life-threatening illness through laughter. Multiple studies have led scientists to believe that laughter reduces our stress hormones and helps lower blood pressure. And one thing that is certain is that laughing feels good.

One of my favorite memories was watching my son, Tyler, when he was a toddler playing with his younger cousin, Maddi. Tyler had figured out a way to get Maddi to burst into laughter. They were having so much fun that they kept doing it. It was such a pure and honest sound that I felt I was listening to perfection.

“Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.” —Karl Barth

“The sound of laughter is like the vaulted dome of a temple of happiness.” —Milan Kundera

Laughter has always been at the center of our family life. There wasn’t a dinner a party or a family dinner that didn’t include laughter—not just giggles but explosions of joy.

My father loved to tell jokes and stories. He loved it so much that he couldn’t help laughing as he told them. We could barely get him to stop long enough to get to the punchline. Sometimes just watching him laugh was enough to set us off.

My mother, on the other hand, was the first to laugh at herself and couldn’t wait to tell you what she had done so you could laugh too—she always made me laugh.

When we were young, before cell phones, all calls rang in the main house. My mother answered the phone and opened the window to holler out who the call was for. She bellowed at the top of her lungs "Allô!” (hello in French). And then just as loudly we heard an outburst of laughter—so loud that she couldn’t get out who the call was for; at that point it didn’t matter; we were all laughing so hard just listening to her.

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.” —Audrey Hepburn

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." —E. E. Cummings

Laughter is contagious and I have to say I am so lucky that I married a man who makes me laugh every day.