What Russel Crowe, EEyore and Nerf Guns Have In Common

the most wasted of all days is one without laughter. e.e. cummings

~University of Chicago studies show a great sense of humor can add an additional 8 years to your life

~pre-school children laugh or smile 400 times a day, however, that number drops to only 15 times a day by the time people reach age 35.

~people smile only 35% as much as they think they do.

~laughter releases endorphins into the body with the same exhilarating effect as doing strenuous exercise.*

~every time you have a good hearty laugh you burn up 3 1/2 calories.

I have a tendency to be rather Eeyore-ish. If I am not careful I can become flat and pessimistic. Flat meaning lifeless. I think it's because I think deeply and privately. I know for experience that it is dangerous to stay that way for too long.

I need my Eeyore times to recharge after being with a lot of people for a length of time or if life gets really stressful. My time allows me to be able to reflect, to digress and to digest life. During that time I am usually categorizing things in my mind. It's how I function. Sounds slightly insane I am sure...but it's not. I am quite sure many people do the same ritual, they just don't analyze it as much. It's my hobby. Yeah I know, I need a new one.

Once I spent a day Eeyore-ing around because I couldn't follow a discussion on Quantum Physics. I was sure that I looked like a deer in the headlights and that REALLY bothered me. Heck, if I don't understand something, I like to at least PRETEND that I get it! But, dang, this caught me off guard. The really ridiculous thing about it is that I was the one who started the conversation. I suppose I should have thought through who I was talking with and chosen someone a little less, um, how shall I put this, "less geek-like." Seriously. I thought it would be fun to discuss a heady subject with people who had done research in the area. What in the world was I thinking. I think my contribution to the entire subject ended up being something about how Russell Crowe was a Quantum Physicist in the movie A Beautiful Mind and he really sounded intelligent!

So, I spent the day muttering under my breath about how I must really be a dingbat because I couldn't contribute much to the conversation and how I should have at least pretended or smiled or nodded or SOMETHING while standing there. What's ironic is that as I was shuffling around and muttering I had a striking resemblance to Russell Crow's character in A Beautiful Mind. Hmm...

I think my honey's response to my disturbance was an all out belly laugh. He poked fun a little and then I lost it. I just realized how ridiculous I sounded and started chuckling which turned into an all out -laugh so hard that you almost pee your pants-fest. I have developed a great ability to laugh at myself--practice makes perfect.

Laughter is excellent for those tense moments in marriage, too. We have found an excellent tool for at home counseling when things are getting difficult. It is fairly inexpensive and is guaranteed to help every time. Simply buy 2 Nerf dart guns, go out side, hide behind things and run, scream and shoot the heck out of each other. It is FANTASTIC!!! We believe in it so much that when we give wedding gifts, we ONLY give Nerf guns with a nice little note of explanation. Everyone we have given them to has thanked us for them later and agreed in their usefulness.

A side perk is that if your kids are old enough...it's great fun to gang up on them. It helps reduce stress AND shows them that Mom and Dad are always on the same side.

Go ahead...laugh a little.

*Studies have shown that an good hour of love making with your spouse can burn up to 400 calories!!! Woo Hoo!!!