Tag: Connection

Stressed? Try Laughing

Humor is cost-free medicine that is fun and easy to use. When people share laughter, it binds them together and increases happiness. Laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in your body that strengthen your immune system. It is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Laughter is good for your health because it relaxes your whole body.

Humor can help you shift your perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, positive, and less threatening light. It even provides pain relief, as laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural “feel good” chemicals.

Laughter can even improve the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, adding protection against heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. Humor inspires teamwork, enhances relationships, keeps you grounded, and connects you to others. Shared laughter is even more powerful than laughing alone. Even if you cannot physically be with your friends or loved ones, connect by phone or by video chatting-you will be glad you did! Who will you make laugh today?

By: Ashley Svaty

Meal Time Tips

Cooking and enjoying a meal together is a great way to connect with your family. Which of the following mealtime tips will you try first?

  • Remove distractions by turning off the TV and making a phone “parking spot” away from the table.
  • Have everyone share what they did during the day. Ask everyone what made them laugh or what they did for fun.
  • Try new foods at home. Kids need many opportunities to taste a new food to get used to it.
  • Have adults and older kids talk about the color, feel, or flavor of foods. This will make them sound more appealing to younger kids.
  • On nice days, opt for a change of scenery and eat outside or go to a nearby park for a picnic.

Enjoy your time together around the table and have fun!

By: Ashley Svaty