Tag Archives: Laughter

Winter Break Ideas for Adults and Children

07 Friday Dec 2012

Posted by in Family Fun

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Winter Break Ideas for Adults and ChildrenHow do you want to spend your time this winter break? Having fun, experiencing something new, enjoying some down time, pampering yourself, connecting with friends and family, spending time with your children or grandchildren, being active, starting or completing a project or craft, volunteering…

Below are ideas with related links that include over 100 possibilities:

Pamper yourself and each other

Play games

Cook together

Cultivate laughter

Over 50 Ways to Take Care of YOU and Some Fun Things To Do! (for adults, teens and children)

Play make-believe

Spread some kindness to others

Make personal posters

Have a pot-luck lunch or dinner

Take long walks

Take up meditation

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

The Mind Doesn’t Know The Difference

26 Monday Nov 2012

Posted by in Healthy Mind

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The mind doesn’t know if you actually did something or just thought about it. Research has shown that without a stressful event actually happening, we can create anxiety along with the chemical release of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, just by thinking about such an event. These hormones provide the “fight or flight” response, increased heart rate and increased blood pressure.

The converse is true.  When we have pleasant, calm or happy thoughts, the biochemical production and release of serotonin and dopamine occurs.

How you think has a direct correlation to how you feel. Since our thoughts create a cascade of chemical releases, and we know our thoughts can produce healthy or unhealthy hormones, we do have some control over our well-being.

Here are some ways to shift to calmer, happier thinking:

Focus on gratitude, being thankful, looking for the happiest moment of the day, or meditating. Ease up on perfectionism, laugh and play more. Remind yourself throughout the day to check in with your thoughts.  You could do this each time you reach for the phone, stop at a red light, just before you eat, or when you wake up and just before you go to sleep.

If you are feeling stressed, it may be time to look more closely at your thinking and choose to look at situations differently.

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

I’m All Ears!

12 Friday Oct 2012

Posted by in Family Fun

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When was the last time you felt someone give you their undivided attention? Our lives, and especially the lives of children today, are so busy, filled with things to do and places to be, that we rarely stop long enough to acknowledge each other, yet alone take the time to really listen.

Here are some suggestions to increase connections with people of all ages who matter to you:

1. Make eye-contact.

2. Stop what you are doing long enough to be present.

3. Schedule some one-on-one time to talk, laugh, play and have fun.

4. Give your full attention to the other person so that they may feel seen and heard.

5. Listen with interest.

6. Be curious and ask questions.

7. Put judgments aside.

8. Reply with kindness, encouragement or something positive.

9. Share your happiest moments of the day with each other.

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis

Families That Laugh Together… Are Healthier & Happier

06 Friday Jul 2012

Posted by in Family Fun, Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

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Children are great at spontaneous laughter, laughing hundreds of times a day, while the average adult laughs about 20 times a day.

Laughter is great for our well-being, it has been shown to reduce stress,strengthen our immune system and even relieve some physical pain. You may remember hearing about Norman Cousins, who developed a recovery program incorporating megadoses of Vitamin C, along with a positive attitude, love, faith, hope, and laughter induced by Marx Brothers films. “I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep,” he reported.

Here are some family friendly suggestions for adding more laughter:

1. Watch funny movies, television shows, or videos.  Find old comedies, sitcoms or cartoons that you grew up with. Some classics include, “I Love Lucy” and “The Carol Burnett Show.” There’s also, “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” Search the web and YouTube for funny animal/pet videos. **Parents, it is advised that you find and preview for appropriateness, movies, videos and photos, without your children.

2. Find funny family photos or take some new ones wearing costumes or themed clothing, or using your expressions or acting silly.

3. When watching television together, watch the commercials and see if you can find something to laugh about.

4. Read the comics together, looking closely at the pictures and expressions of the people and animals.

5. Go to the library or a book store and look for joke books for kids.

6. Post something funny to look at on the refrigerator.

7. Have each family member seek out something funny to look at each day, it could be a photo, a comic strip, a greeting card, a drawing or a figurine.  Keep it by your bedside or in the bathroom where you can see it first thing in the morning and just before you go to sleep.  Just don’t try brushing your teeth while you are laughing, that could make a mess, although it may make for a great photo!

Love, Health & Happiness,

Phyllis