The Cure

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” 

I've found it! The cure to all of life's problems, laughter. Have you ever had yourself a good laugh fest?   If you haven't I highly suggest you do. It is a WONDERFUL thing. There is nothing as great as sitting there laughing until your stomach hurts and no sound is coming out of your mouth. Yes, you may look ridiculous, but who cares?! I have been doing a lot of random research lately on how laughter benefits us mentally, physically, and socially. I was surprised to find that there are actually a ton of wonderful things that come from laughing. 

“Your sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health.”
~ Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D.

 According to studies done, laughter is a very, very good stress reliever. It relaxes the whole body, (after a good, hearty laugh your muscles stay relaxed up to 45 minutes after it! Isn't that so cool?!), it boosts your immune system,   it triggers the release of endorphins (body's natural feel-good chemicals), and it protects your heart. How does it do this you may ask, I'll tell you how. It improves the function of your blood vessels and increases your blood flow. Which protects you from heart attacks and other horrible cardiovascular problems. 
Along with physical benefits, there are mental and social benefits. laughing can add joy and zest to your life, it eases anxiety and fear, improves your mood,  strengthens relationships, helps defuse conflict, the list goes on and on. Who wouldn't want to laugh?! i mean really, come on. Laughing is great. Look at all the wonderful things you get from it! (Not to mention it gives you killer abs!) 
So, do the world a favor, LAUGH. A lot. It's good for you. Having a sense of humor can help you get a better perspective on things and just makes life more fun in general. 
If you'd like to read more about it, here's a good website. http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm

^funny video

much love,
Katie.

A little inspiration

I love Sundays. It is a great day to just relax and  reflect on the week and what you've learned. It's a good day to do some meditating and remember Christ and Heavenly Father and every wonderful thing they have done for us. 

Earlier today I was looking up some quotes from C.S. Lewis, possibly on the greatest authors of all time. I thought I'd share some with you guys, because they are really good.

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” 

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” 

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”  

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” 

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” 

What an inspired guy. LOVE HIM!

love,
Katie.