The Sunshine Report Laughter is the Best Medicine! Karen and Jay share thoughts on why laughter is such a fun, positive and important part of life. Your smile can light up a room. When you laugh, you can send out a positive vibe to others that can almost feel contagious. And, oh my gosh, the joy you can spread with a heartfelt chuckle! Yet, interestingly, while smiles, laughs and chuckles can lighten up the world for those around you, the most important benefits are those that come to you. Your mentality, your outlook, your positive attitude. And interestingly, so too, your physiology. Laughter increases the flow of oxygen to your muscles, heart, and lungs and releases ‘good chemicals’ into your bloodstream, such as dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins. So, seems like a pretty important area for us to focus on. Let’s start with smiling. Smiling is something that most of us do every day, often without even realizing it. And though some might tell you this behavior is most often a sign of happiness, there’s more to smiling than you might think. The simple act of a smile can not only have a positive impact on someone else, but for our own personal well being too! It is easy to take smiles for granted. Sometimes we smile out of habit without any real feeling behind it. We have all seen fake smiles -- the mouth may be shaped like a smile, but the eyes tell the truth -- it is not a real smile if there is no light in the eyes. When I do encounter that light in the eyes along with the smiling mouth, it lights up my day. When you slow down, you may find yourself smiling more often, sometimes for no reason other than simply being grateful for the things you have in life. The truth is, we feel better when we smile, even if we’re unhappy. A friend of mine recently shared a story about a new practice he’s been trying when he becomes upset or annoyed by something. Instead of feeding into the moment, he literally ‘takes 5,’ to take a few deep breaths and work towards putting a small smile on his face. He said after the 5 minutes, his whole outlook changes, and he’s become more productive in his personal and professional life because of it. Perhaps it sounds a little far-fetched, but there’s science to support it. Smiling increases mood-enhancing hormones while decreasing stress-enhancing hormones, including cortisol, and adrenaline. It also reduces overall blood pressure. And because you typically smile when you’re happy, the muscles used trigger your brain to produce more endorphins—the chemical that relieves pain and stress. So, I encourage you to take notice of your smiles and the smiles around you. It may feel forced at first, but you will smile and maybe even laugh when you try it. Smile at the first person you see as you move about your day. Continue to greet each person with a smile from your eyes and heart as well as your face. The more smiles you see, the more you will find yourself smiling. Even a small smile can bring joy to your day and someone else’s. Read The Report NH Comedians – Granite State Stars Who Make Us Laugh! Read More Laconia’s Great NH Pumpkin Festival   Read More Positive Profile of the Week: Dr. Mitch Couret This week we are delighted to highlight a wonderful, upbeat, and generous man, Dr. Mitch Couret. Dr. Couret is a leader in the profession of dentistry and an inspiration to all those whose life he has touched – including mine. I had the good fortune of being introduced to Mitch a number of years ago by my great friend, Tom Raffio of Northeast Delta Dental, and, yes, today, Mitch is my dentist. Mitch is well-known and respected throughout the New Hampshire community and beyond. Having recently moved from the northside of Manchester to Goffstown, Mitch isn’t only providing amazing care in dental but a peace of mind. Mitch is funny, quick witted, enthusiastic, and has a ‘can-do’ attitude. Moreover, his cutting-edge approach is second to none. He is always there to ensure the best interests of his patients. Yet, there is more to Mitch than simply delivering the highest quality in dental care. Mitch brings a sense of humor and calm to the most intimate form of medical care. Remember Steve Martin playing a dentist, the comic approach is memorable and so is Dr. Couret. He cares about his patients and his community. And Mitch truly does make ‘going to the dentist,’ a positive experience that you can look forward to. As Northeast Delta Dental’s Chief Dental Officer, Dr. Mitch Couret is committed to providing a service that has a meaningful impact to the community. As you all know Karen and I dedicate a great deal of our passion to veterans’ causes, and Dr. Couret is a true leader in the effort as well. Via his network and passion for the community, he has established a clinic and rotational care to help with oral care for our veterans. He believes those who serve our country and devote so much of themselves in service to America should be rewarded with care and support. Mitch Couret is simply the best. We thank him from the bottom of our hearts. Quotes of the Week “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol     Jay Lucas | www.JayLucas.us  Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Jay Lucas | 7 Portwalk Pl, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]