Laughing with gusto is proven to be like Safe Sex!

My belief in the power of humor and joyful living to relieve stress is based not only on centuries old notions but on cutting-edge science. In recent years, researchers have shown that laughter positively affects the body in a number of ways. *The body temperature rises, making you feel warmer. *The pulse and blood pressure drop. *Muscles contract, then relax as you laugh. *Breathing becomes deeper. *Serum oxygen levels are elevated, which benefits the cardiovascular system, heightens energy levels, and reduces tension. Laughter also boosts your immune system. It activates T lymphocytes and natural killer cells, both of which help destroy invading microorganisms. In addition, laughter increases the production of immunity-boosting gamma interferon and speeds up the production of new immune cells. And it reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can weaken the immune system. It appears when we laugh, we release endorphins, which are chemical cousins to the opiates heroine and morphine, natural painkillers. And a robust laugh gives your diaphragm, thorax, abdomen, heart and lungs, and maybe your liver a good workout.

It has been found that laughing for ten minutes is analogous to rowing on a rowing machine one hundred times. Your muscles tighten and relax, and thereby grow stronger. Thanks to a pulmonary cardiac reflex, your pulse can double from say, 60 to a 120. Laughing is aerobic; laughing with gusto turns your body into a big vibrator and performs an internal massage. This could be safe sex at its best! As with sex, this arousal leaves you more relaxed. Some people get so relaxed they pee their pants. There could possibly be a market for Depends that have a microchip in them that sounds like laughter when it gets wet. It might give a whole new meaning to incontinence. I was gifted  with a sense of humor from a very young age and knowing all of the above certainly makes me feel like I might have improved my health. But the bottom line is laughing, feels good! It gives you a respite from the minds relentless need to remind you what needs to be done and how little time there is for fun. I believe we should live life as if we only have a few minutes left. Leave space in your day for celebration and laughter. There are many moments that contain joy, humor, and a sense of how absurd life can be. Don’t miss them, they will make your life richer as well as those around you.

Sex is part of a LARGER picture.

I have often wondered why America seems so at odds with its’ sexuality and aging. Europeans have always seemed to be more relaxed about nudity and sex even as they age.

When I was visiting the French Riviera as a young woman, I was in awe of the women walking topless along the boardwalk, many of whom not very young. They did not appear to have any concerns about not having youthful bodies. They even dare to put older women and men being romantic and sexy in their movies. We rarely do that and if we do it’s viewed as an anomaly.

When I saw “It’s Complicated” I loved the fact that they had finally made a movie that allowed the actors to look their age and still be sexy and seductive. We, on the other hand are always showcasing youth in almost every aspect of the media. Reality shows are rife with women and men that look like they’ve been botoxed from head to toe. Nothing moves.

Any advertisements I’ve seen for erectile dysfunction always has youthful looking partners. Where are the sixty, seventy, and eighty and ninety year olds? I guess their considered dead in that department. The irony is that research shows that older people actually have more sex than their younger counterparts. Probably because they have more time, or maybe they realize that it’s more important than returning e-mails, texting or talking on their blackberry’s. Years ago Time magazine had a couple sitting on a bed with a headline over it “DINK” (duel income no sex).

Oprah got on the bandwagon and had a show with a few young couples that complained they had no time for each other, because of jobs, children and other obligations. The Psychologist who was there to give advice told them they needed to put a date to “get it on” in their organizers. I found this to be so hilarious that it had me giggling for days. Now the overwhelmed couple could look forward to another “job” on Friday night. Maybe as we get older we recognize that sex is part of a larger picture. That it begins with how we treat each other through words, actions and deeds.

Tenderness, kindness, thoughtfulness, respect and compassion are part of feeling connected and wanting more. Great abs, a tight butt, and abundant cleavage without the aforementioned may be exciting for a while. But it gets old and so do we.