We can all agree laughter is the great therapy. How many times have you sighed in relief and said “Aaahhhh, Thanks. I really needed that.”

I was having dinner friend, mentor, old boss’s house a few weeks ago with another dear friend. The three of us were experimenting with a device called the Clarity Meter. It measured the electromagnetic frequencies emitting from the person connected to it. He would ask us a series of questions and the needle on the meter would fluctuate in various directions. When a significant question was asked you could see the needle move and it would indicate a release. When my friend was connected she would let out her typical loud belly laugh after answering a significant question. We then saw the needle drop COMPLETELY! This indicated a significant release, more than talking, more than sighing, more than any other thing you could think of that would be considered a “release”, LAUGHTER made the needle drop the MOST!

This truly excited me. It reminded me of a concept I read about in the book “Getting The Love You Want” By Harville Hendrix and Kelly La Kelly Hunt which states its impossible to experience anger and laugh at the same time. They suggest laughing together as a couple helps bond and rebuild a relationship stuck in the chains of anger, resentment, and frustration. I couldn’t agree with that statement more. When I think about my closest connections with my friends, family my significant other I realize its laughter that bonds us.

I’m in a unique position at the chiropractors office. we offer 15 minute massages. It’s such a limited time to listen to their issues, not enough time to really quiet them down and really get into the quiet place in which massage can put a person. The process of therapy can be great but its inevitably grueling in that you have to kinda face all the unpleasant corners of your life. It can be a reminder of all the pain for people, especially those who have chronic conditions. Who wants to unload a bunch of negative feelings, only to feel relief for a few hours, or days and then come back and do it again, week after week. It sure doesn’t sound pleasant to me. I decided to use laughter. I’m often searching for the most efficient means to make the greatest impact and this week I used laughter purposefully. If I saw someone absolutely hopeless and distraught, when they got on the table I’d say. “So tell me something good that’s going on?” Puzzled they would respond with “uh’s” and “um’s”. “Whats something that made you happy?” and a positive conversation ensued as I worked on them. Telling jokes, and empathically commiserating and bringing a bit of comedy to what was going on had quite the impact. It made me realize why I love working there. Its even therapeutic for ME! Highland Park Chiropractic Center has a unique way of using the power of meaningful connection and quality chiropractic and massage care to create an experience that makes therapy fun enjoyable and I believe its the key to their success. If someone on my table isn’t laughing they are laughing in another room. If they aren’t laughing at the table they are laughing with the receptionist. We live to laugh, heal and spark joy in peoples lives, and that more than anything else is the key to providing the kind of quality service to our patients.

I wanted to end this blog with some examples of things that make literally LAUGH OUT LOUD. Please feel free to share in the comments below the things that make you laugh.

TV: Impractical Jokers, Modern Family, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Monty Python

Comedians: Dave Chappelle, Eddie Murphy, Sebastian Maniscalco, Peter Sellers

Books: Anything by David Sedaris