WE ALL NEED A BELLY LAUGH
The other day I had what is called a belly laugh with some friends! It came on us unexpectedly. Uncontrollable laughing, unable to breath, tears streaming down our faces, my gut was hurting. When I looked at my friends laughing just as hard as I was, I laughed harder. I really enjoy belly laughs. We all need a belly laugh once in a while. It is good for the soul.
The definition of a belly laugh from Webster is “A loud unrestrained laugh”. I have had some good belly laughs in the past and I remember them very well and in great detail. Here are a few that I have had with friends and family.
I was broadcasting a LQPV football game in Luverne with my broadcasting partner Troy Sergent. The running backs name for Luverne was Mike Bra and he got the ball about 75% of the time. Before the game I told Troy that I really felt uncomfortable saying a ladies’ undergarment every time he got the ball. Troy said “I’m glad it’s you doing play by play”. So every time Mike Bra got the ball and every time I said Bra left or Bra right or Bra with the ball, Troy would giggle and make faces at me.
Our belly laugh started when I said “Here is Bra “busting” through the line!!” I did not realize what I had said. Troy took his headset off and went in the corner of the press box, and was laughing so hard. Then he lipped the words to me “busting through!” We both lost it and had one of the best belly laughs ever! I did find the words to take a commercial break, so we weren’t on the radio the whole time laughing. We must have missed a dozen football plays during that time.
Another good belly laugh was with my wife Roxie. We were living in Alexandria in an apartment on a lake. Roxie was expecting our first born, she must have been about 6 or 7 months pregnant. We were watching television, and Roxie went to lay on the living room floor to get more comfortable. After a while she said she had to get up and go to the bathroom. I jumped off the couch and started tickling her not letting her up. She was screaming and screaming at me to let her go. It turned into a fun little wrestling match. It was all fun. Then there was a knock at the door. I got up to open it and it was our landlady. She had this terrified look on her face and backed away from the door. She looked at me and asked if everything was alright. She thought we were fighting. When she left, Roxie and I had a good belly laugh.
A more recent belly laugh happened with our friends Dan and Cheri Tuckett. We were in Canby and I was driving. We decided to go through the drive thru at the Dairy Queen. It was time to order. Roxie, Dan and Cheri all were telling me what they wanted. I was trying to relay the ice cream items to the lady working. The simple order got so messed up, and I couldn’t remember what Dan wanted. I asked Dan maybe three or four times what he wanted. All of us started laughing and I was laughing so hard I could not speak. The women taking our order was getting upset and thought we were all drunk! When I drove up to the window I was embarrassed and apologized to her. She was not happy with us. The laughing continued all the way to Madison. All four of us were crying we were laughing so hard.
Belly laughs make you feel good. Did you know there are many benefits of experiencing belly laughs? According to Dr. Don Colbert.
7 Benefits to Belly Laughter
- Laughing lowers blood pressure
2. Reduces stress hormone levels
3. Can burn 1.3 calories per minute while laughing
4. Improves cardiac health
5. Boosts T cells
6. Triggers the release of endorphins
7. Produces a general sense of well-being
Awesome! I must be the healthiest guy around! Would love to hear your belly laugh stories.