I loved this article sent to me so much I had to share it. It's from the "Inner Quality Tip" Newsletter from Heartmath.com . Wow... to be a kid again! THE LIGHTER SIDE Someone once told me while I was in the midst of a difficult situation, if there's the slightest chance you might look back on this some day and laugh about it, start laughing now. Granted, this doesn't always work, but it sure has helped me get through some tough times. In addition to facilitating a perceptual shift, laughter has a lot of other benefits. Studies 1 on humor and laughter from Duke University, Loma Linda University, UCLA and others have shown: Laughing helps relax tense muscles. It reduces the production of stress hormones. Laughter and a positive attitude strengthen the immune system. It allows a person to 'forget' about aches and pains and perceive pain as less intense. A good laugh is like an aerobic workout for the heart and lungs--increasing the body's ability to ...