There are many phrases I attribute to my mom and among my favorites is, “laughter is medicine for your soul”. Throughout my lifetime, I’ve added a few more “pills” I try to take every day.
- Real medicine (I’ve long struggled with anxiety and am happily hooked on Celexa.)
- Music
- Silence
- Exercise
Each of these, along with laughter, have become essential daily disciplines for me. How about you? Not so much? Then here are some ideas.
Laughter: Read the comics? Watch a comedy? Say something silly to your kids, grandkids or a server or checkout person at the store? (That’s my favorite because I love seeing their reactions.)
Real medicine: Most of my friends still disdain the need for prescription drugs for mental health. But after refusing meds for years, I learned that when applied by professionals after researching my specific tendencies, they can be very helpful.
Music: When do you listen to music each day? Do you have any playlists? What’s your favorite genre? When did you last see live music? If you play an instrument, when did you last play it? (This includes if it’s been months or years – it’s never too late!)
Silence: Most everyone I know says they have no time for silence. Really? It does take discipline, I’ve been rewarded by stopping myself to notice…clouds, a baby crying, the sound of my breath, waves or rain. And Mother Teresa, in the first step of her “Simple Path” notes that “the fruit of silence is prayer”.
Exercise: Nope, I don’t mean running or hitting the gym, necessarily. Just wearing a gadget that measures your steps or heart rate may lead to some simple improvement. Walking, stretching, isometrics, yoga, whatever! Anything that causes your body to move.
And if you can only choose one of these? Choose laughter. It’s clinically proven (look it up) that when you laugh, your mind and body become healthier.
Life can become too serious. It’s hard to be serious when we’re laughing.
Peace,
Tim McCarthy
