I have one sister and I adore her. We get along well except for those few catfights we had as adolescents. One of the most special things about our relationship is laughter. It is so easy for us to be wild and crazy together.  Connect often with those who make you laugh.

One memorable evening at Uno Pizzeria in Chicago, my sister and our families were waiting patiently for our pizzas to arrive at our table. She and I were sitting next to each other cackling and I accidently knocked over the glass of water in front of me. Once it was all cleaned up, she knocked over the glass in front of her! Her son was beside himself with laughter (and I am sure embarrassment) as he was watching the two of us howl. That is what happens when we get together. Since we live 2,000 miles apart, it does not happen often enough. We certainly have some great stories to share from the past!

The Seven Health Benefits of Laughter are:

1. Laughing lowers blood pressure
2. Reduces stress hormone levels
3. Fun ab workout
4. Improves cardiac health
5. Boosts immune system cells
6. Triggers the release of endorphins
7. Produces a general sense of well-being

An extended session of belly laughs is a great way of establishing connections with others. I just spoke with my sister yesterday afternoon and I always feel uplifted after one of our marathon phone calls.