IS LAUGHTER THE WORLD'S BEST MEDICINE? AN IRAQ SOLDIER THINKS SO!
By Jodie Lynn May 8, 2008
http://www.parenttoparent.com
What does laughter really do for a person both physically and mentally?
“Love and laughter make the world go 'round.” How many times have we heard this?
What about the ever popular, “Laughter is the best medicine.”
Are these actually true statements? Do you notice a difference in your mood when you laugh?
Many days while working from my home office I run into daily challenges with my computer. I never know what will malfunction. That's pretty disheartening and there's nothing funny about it.
There are mounds of work to be done and it seems all that is accomplished are my attempts to correct a problem that is preventing me from completing what I started in the first place.
This process takes anywhere from a couple of hours to who knows how long. I'll spend two to three days trying to look something up and then try to follow the instructions. Sometimes it fixes the problem while other times I've only made it worse.
Since most of my work is done from home, having computer challenges can totally ruin the day. As you can imagine, by the end of the week I HATE COMPUTERS!
However, there's one ray of sunshine that helps me pick my chin up off the floor and clean up my act, as of course by the end of the week my mouth has suddenly taken on the personality of my Dad—a boxer in the Navy. I think you get the drift.
What is the one thing that helps me literally save my sanity?
It's reading Lisa Barker's weekly column, Jelly Mom, or just picking up her latest book, Just Because Your Kids Drive You Insane...Doesn't Mean You Are A Bad Parent! and reading any story.
Sometimes, I just laugh out loud and instantly feel better. Lisa is the mom of five kids, has multiple pets—mostly cats—and is married to a wonderful guy who even extends a helping hand to me when I ask, or cry loud enough, about whatever computer saga I'm experiencing.
If my husband happens to be home when I'm reading one of her columns or a page or two in her book, and he hears me laughing out loud, he knows that Jelly Mom has saved the day once again. In fact, he has also really enjoyed the column. It's not just for moms.
Jelly Mom connects with moms covering motherhood and all the crazy things that can happen when work, family, errands, doctor trips, household chores, kids, pets, and the million other things moms seem to be in charge of collide especially if you work in a home based office.
Not more than a couple of days ago, Lisa received a note via her website, www.JellyMom.com, and she shared it with me. It's so amazing that I'm going to share it with you, as I feel I must!
I am a Husband deployed to Iraq, and with Mother's Day looming, and my wife determined that the only thing she needs is me home, your book was just what I needed. Thank you very much. A Soldier.
See, I told you it was cool!
Whether it's Mother's Day, Father's Day or whatever, just any old time you need a lift out of a gloomy, frustrating or REALLY bad day, pick up a copy of Lisa’s book and watch your “ill” feelings disappear.
It doesn't matter if you're a mom, dad, grandparent, aunt, uncle, sister, or whomever, if you have kids in your life on any level, you'll love Lisa's book.
For one soldier and I, and many others, Jelly Mom makes a huge difference in our daily lives.
© 2008 Jodie Lynn