While my life’s passion is remembering to live like every day is my last day, I also firmly believe every day better have at least one belly laugh (and that’s the minimum). In fact, if I plan it right, my last breaths on earth will include at least one chuckle.
For many years, I have been the sharer of corny jokes during fitness and coaching training sessions. Nothing makes people connect, lighten up, increase energy, reduce stress and change attitude like a shared joke. Most of my jokes are borrowed from other people or by googling “corny jokes.” I make it a practice to find at least one joke a week to share with the people in my life.
Laughter has been proven to reduce stress hormones that constrict blood vessels and suppress immune activity. Levels of the stress hormone, adrenaline, were lowered in people after exposure to humor. The “flight or fight hormone,” dopamine was also reduced after the experience of laughter.
Laughing is aerobic, providing a workout for the diaphragm and increasing the body’s ability to use oxygen. Laughter brings in positive emotions that can enhance conventional treatments making it another tool to help fight the disease.
My best corny joke source is Norma, the mom of a close friend and client. Years ago we started a long distance joke sharing competition via the telephone. Norma shared her “famous or infamous” snail joke with me a few years ago that I still bring it out when a little humor is needed in the gym. Now it was my turn to return the favor by sending her my “best” corny joke. I finally paid her back with the joke in this video. You will first see me talking to Norma, advising her that we are now “joke even!”
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Regular talks with my financial advisor are yet another opportunity for me to have a good joke ready to roll. While I do take finances seriously, I also know I won’t be shoved into the crematorium surrounded by my money. No matter what the financial news is of the day, I always end our conversations with a joke knowing laughter changes everything.
