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Laugh With Your Spouse

laugh with spouseNotice I didn’t write laugh at your spouse.  (ha ha)

When you and your mate constantly laugh together, that fun will carry you through the mundane moments of marriage.  I have a fun-loving mom friend named Hannah Keeley who is a party waiting to happen.  One evening, her husband asked her, “Did you have fun today?”

She paused and thought about it.  “No, I really didn’t,” she answered.

That little question stuck with her.  Now she aims to have fun every day so she can answer yes to that question.

Yes, sometimes something hilarious happens to interrupt your otherwise serious life.  But much of the time, you have to find the funny in your marriage and parenting life.  (Keep looking…there is hilarious, entertaining, quirky, and adorable embedded in your day-to-day family life).

Research backs up the positive benefits of laughter.  According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter can:

Improve your immune system.  Positive thoughts actually release neuropeptides (I know, I didn’t know I had those either).  They help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses.

Relieve pain.  Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.  Laughter may also break the pain-spasm cycle common to some muscle disorders.

Increase personal satisfaction.  Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations.  It also helps you connect with other people.

Think of these medical benefits through the lens of marriage benefits.

Improve your immune system.  When you have fun with your spouse, you’re less susceptible to infidelity, arguments, or the seven year itch.

Relieve pain.  Laughter can bring down walls between you and your husband in an instant.  It breaks the pain cycle of hurting one another and introduces healing instead.

Increase personal satisfaction.  Laughter puts oil on the squeaky hinges, making everything in your relationship run smoother, allowing you to better enjoy being married.

Left to my own devices, my idea of fun would be writing books and planning my next talk to a women’s group.  I’m thankful I enjoy what I do, but this task-oriented mama’s got to learn to have more fun!  That’s why I have James.

It sounds like an oxymoron but you can actually learn how to have more fun in your life.  Just like a great birthday party doesn’t automatically happen (happiness is often planned), you can intentionally put more fun in your marriage.  Maybe you can…

Tape a funny comic strip or photo on the bathroom mirror.  When you see a funny comic strip, take a moment to cut it out for your spouse.  Find an old photo of a funny memory and put it where your spouse will stumble on it.

Watch a funny movie or TV show.  We have a friend who loves old episodes of the Andy Griffith Show.  James and I love watching episodes with him because his reactions to the show are even funnier than the show itself.

Learn to laugh at everyday stuff.  James rollerbladed to school recently wearing a Hello Kitty backpack, holding a poster with bunnies on it for my daughter’s kindergarten presentation.  She rode her bike.  He looked hilarious!

Make time for laughter – no matter how busy your day is.  Laughing together is a wonderful stress reliever, marriage strengthener, and joy activator.

What’s something funny that’s happened in your house lately?

Blessings,

Arlene Pellicane, arlenepellicane.com

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