Someone recently told me they think they lost their sense of humor along with their youth. While some people think that we lose our funny bones with age, most experts agree that it’s only related to a loss of hearing and other senses. In other words, it’s only the ability to experience humor that is different at 75! It’s so important that, in fact, Sunday, May 1st is World Laughter Day. Pretty much all experts agree that laughter promotes good health in these four important areas:
- Physical Wellness: humor can have a positive impact on the perception of pain, it benefits our immune system, lowers blood pressure, and relieves stress. 15 minutes of a good hearty belly laugh (with tears!) is the same physical workout as 10 minutes on the treadmill at a brisk pace!
- Emotional Wellness: Humor can be a great and needed distraction, it relieves stress, boosts our mood, and is an anxiety buster!
- Social Engagement: Humor helps us socially- it connects us to others. The great Victor Borge said, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.”
- Brain Health: Despite its reputation as being childish, laughter can actually be a highly developed mental exercise, training us to approach ideas in new ways. Even a silly pun or “dad joke” requires the brain to shift perspective and “stretch” a little bit.
And, as the hair on our heads turns gray, wouldn’t it be amazing to feel great in those four areas? At Danbury Senior Living, our activity groups and meals are filled with smiles and laughter. To learn more about how and why we do this, call us today!
