Welcome to Wiser Now’s weekly email blast which reflects my eclectic interests and, I hope, yours. This week, my focus is on Humor Month and Holy Humor Month and in particular today (20), Humor for Your Health’s Sake. Already passed this month have been Giggles & Guffaws Day (8) and International Moment of Laughter Day (14), so if you haven’t been tickling your funny bone, get to it!
I hope you find these offerings fun, and perhaps even useful, and welcome your feedback. (Kathy@WiserNow.com) And if you haven’t yet pressed the subscribe button so this newsletter doesn’t go to spam, please do so now.
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The Quirky Quote
From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere. ~ Dr. Seuss
The Quirky Facts
Although I try to be lighthearted every week in my approach to Wiser Now Wednesday, I usually address the topic of humor directly only during Humor Month. Once again, it’s worth noting, that according to this Mayo Clinic article, tapping into our sense of humor has many health benefits. It:
- Boosts our immune system
- Enhances our intake of oxygen-rich air, thereby stimulating our heart, lungs and muscles
- Stimulates circulation that results in relaxation of muscle tension
- Reduces pain
- Improves our mood
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When we are stressed, our bodies release cortisol, which suppresses our immune system. Humor distracts us from stress – even if it’s just for a brief moment – giving us a glimpse of hope that we will be able to get through this situation after all.
I’ve thought about this a lot since the Russians invaded Ukraine. What the citizens there are enduring is horrific, and led by a brave president who was once a standup comedian, they have been making jokes as a survival tool. They are dark jokes that make fun of the Russians. In normal circumstances “healthy humor” is inclusive and doesn’t put down others, but Ukrainians’ circumstances could not be more abnormal. Humor isn’t a solution, but it reframes the problem long enough to take a deep breath.
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The Quirky Observations
The mug at left, with its quote by my friend Izzy Gesell, who founded last week’s #internationalmomentoflaughter day 20 years ago, makes another important point about humor: its relation to love. My mantra for many years has been:
Laughter builds rapport.
Rapport builds trust.
Trust builds relationships.
Shared humor unites us, draws us together, helps us to love one another.
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You can learn more about the Moment of Laughter celebration at https://www.facebook.com/izzygesell and get some ideas for celebrating at https://lnkd.in/dkGK2d2. The day may have passed, but moments of laughter can and should happen every day. Plus, his suggestions include a link to the coloring page at right, a laughing brain design by artist Laura Bundesen, who specializes in creating embroidered brains, which are also made into pins and other products. (Image reprinted with permission) Learn more here: https://www.laurabundesen.com/
One more observation: I avoid talking about religion in WNW because I don’t want to discriminate among any faiths that honor love and kindness. But since April is Holy Humor Month, I decided to look at a bit of current faith-based jokes, and was pleased to find we had moved beyond the preacher/priest/rabbi jokes to this:
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A rabbi, an imam, and a Buddhist monk sit down together in a pizza parlor. The waitress walks over and asks, “What would you like on your pizza?”
The rabbi says, “I like seafood, but my faith forbids me from eating shellfish. Make me one without shellfish.”
She turns to the imam. “I would like a meat topping,” the imam says. “But my faith forbids me from eating pork, so I’ll have one without pepperoni.”
Finally, the waitress turns to the Buddhist monk, who calmly says to her, “Make me one with everything.”
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Please Spread the Word
WNW is an award-winning publication used by activity professionals, teachers, aging adults and their grandkids, and lots of people in between. Please share it, and if you represent an organization that would like a customized version or would consider becoming a sponsor, send me a note at Kathy@WiserNow.com.
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Directions for Sharing
Each week, the links to the current and seven previous Wiser Now Wednesdays are provided in the archive (“WN Wed Archive” on the far right of the menu bar). Click on the issue you want to share, and when it appears, at the top of the screen you will see “Share” with an f for Facebook and a bird for Twitter. Click on them to share to your contacts or just copy the URL at the top of your screen and send it to them in an email. Thank you!
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The Questions
- How have you used humor to ease tension (yours or others’)?
- Has your attempt (or someone else’s) to use humor ever backfired? What happened?
- Can you give an example of a time when humor built rapport with a crowd?
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The Quiz - Church Bulletin Bloopers
Because April is Holy Humor Month and one longstanding example is poorly proofread church bulletins, asking you to match beginnings to endings seems like a jolly, but inoffensive way to celebrate.
1. At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be “What is Hell?” . . .
2. Eight new choir robes are currently needed, . . .
3. The Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10. . .
4. Miss Charlene Mason sang, “I Will Not Pass This Way Again,” . . .
5. The Pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him . . .
6. The peace-making meeting scheduled for today has been canceled . . .
7. This afternoon there will be a meeting in the north and south ends of the church. . .
8. This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to . . .
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a. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.
b. Children will be baptized at both ends.
c. Come early and listen to our choir practice.
d. come forward and lay an egg on the altar.
e. due to a conflict.
f. due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of several others.
g. giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
h. their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning.
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The Resources
Photo credits unless otherwise noted are purchased from iStock.
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Answers to the quiz
1. C - At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be “What is Hell?” Come early and listen to our choir practice.
2. F - Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of several others.
3. A - The Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.
4. G - Miss Charlene Mason sang, “I Will Not Pass This Way Again,” giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
5. H - The Pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning.
6. E - The peace-making meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.
7. B - This afternoon there will be a meeting in the north and south ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends.
8. D - This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.
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My multiple goals are to amuse and inspire you, to share what I and people whom I admire are doing, to stimulate your curiosity and spur you to action. I hope you enjoyed this offering. You can access previous issues here. I welcome your feedback. (Kathy@WiserNow.com)
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