A joyful heart is good medicine, Happy thangkiving

He did this stunt himself with a prosthetic
hand.  Check out a video clip and see if
you can figure  out which is his prosthesis.

“A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

I read an article in Wall Street Journal that pointed out as a person declines with Alzheimer's they lose the ability first to laugh at satirical and absurd humor. The article cited Monty Pythons humor as an example. Slapstick it seems is the last humor to be lost. The Three Stooges is a big hit with 10-year-olds and apparently declining mental states in seniors. The research backing the article pointed out there may be cultural differences as to humor appreciation. 

I am always thought Harold Lloyd and Laura & Hardy were a whole lot funnier than Charlie Chaplin. Some of the things Chaplin did were funny, but it seemed to me he was more interested in the other themes then comedy. Artsy people will continue to rave about Chaplin, but the other comedians will make you laugh. 

In Proverbs 14:13 even in laughter start may sorrow… we tend to see humor in some of our darker experiences. Comedians are often lead complicated and sad lives. I read an article recently we're in Norman Rockwell went to therapy with the fame therapist Erickson to deal with the pain in his private life. Maybe it was a pain in his life that helped him to focus on the beautiful in living in his art.

There is another side to humor that I think is good for us. In Proverbs 17:22, New Living Bible paraphrases “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.”

Laughing, reframing life's experience in a positive way has been shown to be good for our immune system and overall health. This is not being a buffoon but it is a mental strength that is more resilient then seeing life of gloom and despair. If we laugh often it may even affect our longevity. One thing that will do is give us a better day. Keep walking. Happy thanksgiving.

Articles on Alzheimer's progression and humor

http://content.iospress.com/download/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad150413?id=journal-of-alzheimers-disease%2Fjad150413

http://www.wsj.com/articles/changes-in-sense-of-humor-may-presage-dementia-1447865310