I’m ashamed to admit it, but I missed celebrating ‘Belly-Laugh Day,” which was in January this year. And, I’m two days late at celebrating ‘Let’s Laugh Day.” It’s my belief that even if you’re late for the date sharing laughter is always good medicine. Though there are lots of diversities worldwide, one thing that’s common among all people is laughter. Have you had your laugh today? If not, it’s time for you to find your humor button and click on it.

Humor has always been a part of who I am. I grew up in a home where tricks were played on one another on a regular basis. We were always trying to out-do one another when it came to practical jokes.

I did, however, receive my just dues when I was in college. The young man I was dating let me borrow his car so I and my girlfriends could go shopping. We arrived at the men’s dorm to pick up the car and noticed he was standing on the balcony with his buddies watching us. When I climbed in the driver’s seat I found myself face to face with a snake coiled around the steering wheel. Of course, he knew how terrified I am of snakes, so he and his buddies almost fell off the balcony they were laughing so hard. Turns out, it was only a snake skin they had found and wrapped around the steering wheel. To this day I’m positive I exited the car at lighting speed. I wasn’t about to waste any time to find out if it was real or not; I almost killed myself trying to get out of the car.

Laughing has been proven to be healthy for us. I’ve read where it reduces the level of risking having a stroke or heart attack and actually lowers blood pressure. Some even believe it can reduce the levels of stress hormones. Whatever you believe to be the best benefits from a good old-fashioned hee-haw laugh I’m sure it doesn’t cause any harmful side effects.

I do know laughter is contagious. Just recently I was sitting across the table from a friend, watching the activities going on around us. As I sat there I begin to notice how hilarious everything seemed to be and couldn’t help but break out laughing; a slow, barely audible giggle at first that turned into a louder laugh and escalated to a belly-laugh with tears rolling down my face. Why? The actions going on around me suddenly reminded me of a circus in motion. Before I could get my laugh under control my friend was also laughing even harder.

My sense of humor has seemingly been the root of my getting into trouble throughout my life. When I was growing up I always seemed to find the funniest things going on around me when I was sitting in church. Things that would make me want to giggle and snort right there in the middle of a sermon. My mother was forever tapping my hands and giving me ‘the look’.

I have a theory that no one can feel angry when they’re laughing. I like the ‘laugh till your belly-hurts or you pee in your pants’ kind of laugh. Those laughs usually come from memorable moments in someone’s life. I have a quote hanging on the wall in my office that reads, “I laughed so hard I had tears running down my leg.” I admit laughter has been almost lost during the last few months of my life, but it is resurfacing and I see and hear things that make my heart smile again.

So, if you haven’t had your laugh for today, grab the comic section and read some funny stuff—silly stuff; then let that laughter start from your toes and settle in your belly for a good old fashion side-splitting guffaw or at least a few chuckles. After all, Laughter is the best medicine.

Email Betty Heath at begeheath690@aol.com.