Laughter is the Best Medicine Source: www.essaylib.com/eassay,php

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Presented by: Dammar Singh Saud

Introduction of Dick GregoryBirth name: Richard Claxton Gregory Born: October 12, 1932 (age 84) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.Medium: Civil rights activist, stand-up comedy, film, books, criticNationality: AmericanYears active: 1954–presentGenres: Satire, political satire, observational comedySubject(s): American civil rights, politics, culture, 

African-American culture, racism, race relations, vegetarianism, healthy diet

Spouse: Lillian Smith (m. 1959)Notable works and roles: In Living Black and White, Nigger

: An Autobiography by Dick Gregory

Central Idea of the textThis essay is about the advantages and disadvantages of laughter in our life. Definitely, laughter is a healthier way of dealing with a situation rather than crying. However, in certain situations like in the time of one’s death, laughter can be very distressful or it cannot solve our problems.

Major points of the text• Dick Gregory is the main character who thinks many advantages

of laughter though it has some disadvantages.• It can be an effective cure but it can also be useless during

tragedies.• Laughter can solve predicaments like arguments, but not during

serious catastrophes like death.• He learns the power of jokes by his Momma while growing up.• Laughter is the source of hope and optimism.• He can solve many difficulties from his life by the use of laughter

and wisdom.• He uses his wit, and his humor to escape from hostile situation or

troublesome events.• He sees laughter as a strong force that can take hold of any force.

Major points of the textHe uses jokes instead of violence when people were yelling back

at him in the period of civil right movements.He uses laughter as a strong weapon during the distasteful and

uncomfortable moments.He realizes that laughter is not the right way of dealing with his

family’s economic problems.When he loses his son due to pneumonia he realizes that humor

and jokes will not bring his son back.He understands laughter is not always the best remedy.He made surprised the aggressive police officer by saying more

Negro blood in her than I could ever hope to have in me.He does not feel the need to fight back because if he does, he

will be stooping down to the level of his opponents.

Quick Hacks to Bring More Laughter Into Your Life

Make humor a priority by reading a funny book, watching a comedy, or listening to your favorite comedian.

Share laughter with friends. Spend more time with people who have fun.Practice laughter yoga.Remember that life is funny. The ability to laugh at yourself makes you

attractive to others and can help relieve your own stress. Focus on finding the laughable moments in your day, and then tell a friend your funny story as a way to increase the power of laughter by sharing.

Know what isn’t funny. Laughing at the expense of others isn’t funny. Be discerning about your humor by laughing with—not at—people.  

Your ability to laugh can be cultivated with practice so start by prioritizing fun. Find occasion to be silly. Remember laughter, like smiling, is never depleted when you share it.

Laughter is good for your healthLaughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical

tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones

and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

Laughter burns calories. OK, so it’s no replacement for going to the gym, but one study found that laughing for 10 to 15 minutes a day can burn about 40 calories—which could be enough to lose three or four pounds over the course of a year.

Laughter lightens anger’s heavy load. Nothing diffuses anger and conflict faster than a shared laugh. Looking at the funny side can put problems into perspective and enable you to move on from confrontations without holding onto bitterness or resentment.

Laughter may even help you to live longer. A study in Norway found that people with a strong sense of humor outlived those who don't laugh as much. The difference was particularly notable for those battling cancer.

Physical health benefits of laughter

Boosts immunityLowers stress hormonesDecreases painRelaxes your musclesPrevents heart disease

Mental health benefits of laughter

Adds joy and zest to lifeEases anxiety and tensionRelieves stressImproves moodStrengthens resilience

Social benefits of laughter

Strengthens relationshipsAttracts others to usEnhances teamworkHelps defuse conflictPromotes group bonding

How to Develop Your Sense of HumorRemember funny things that happen. If something amusing

happens or you hear a joke or funny story you really like, write it down or tell it to someone else to help you remember it.

Laugh at yourself. Share your embarrassing moments. The best way to take yourself less seriously is to talk about times when you took yourself too seriously.

Attempt to laugh at situations rather than bemoan them. Look for the humor in a bad situation, and uncover the irony and absurdity of life. When something negative happens, try to find a way to make it a humorous anecdote that will make others laugh.

Surround yourself with reminders to lighten up. Keep a toy on your desk or in your car. Put up a funny poster in your office. Choose a computer screensaver that makes you laugh. Frame photos of you and your family or friends having fun.

Don’t dwell on the negative. Try to avoid negative people and don’t dwell on news stories, entertainment, or conversations that make you sad or unhappy. Many things in life are beyond your control—particularly the behavior of other people. While you might think taking the weight of the world on your shoulders is admirable, in the long run it’s unrealistic and unhealthy.

Find your inner child. Pay attention to children and try to emulate them—after all, they are the experts on playing, taking life lightly, and laughing at ordinary things.

Deal with your stress. Stress can be a major impediment to humor and laughter, so it's important to get your stress levels in check. One great technique to relieve stress in the moment is to draw upon a favorite memory that always makes you smile—something your kids did, for example, or something funny a friend told you.

Don’t go a day without laughing. Think of it like exercise or breakfast and make a conscious effort to find something each day that makes you laugh. Set aside 10 to 15 minutes and do something that amuses you. The more you get used to laughing each day, the less effort you’ll have to make.

How to Develop Your Sense of Humor

Conclusion

Thus, laughing makes people happy during difficult times, it helps people to get through certain challenges in life. However, laughing sometimes has its downfalls.

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