Laughter, the World’s Oldest Medicine
A Fart, is Simply a Butt Chuckle.
As children we were taught body sounds such as flatulence should not recognized or brought to the attention of others. It was considered very bad manners and a poor reflection of your character to laugh or to distinguish the bodily function to any regard. Whether in a positive way, by laughing or smiling, or even in a negative way, such as calling the person out and demanding acknowledgement of a odorous uncontrollable bodily expiration. It was deemed uncouth. Yet did you ever question that when someone, even yourself, passes gas.. the urge to smile or giggle occurs, almost spontaneously. Why is that?
Farts are intrinsically funny, universal to every culture and every human being. The humor and healing benefits associated to flatulence have been written and discussed by many great historians, philosophers, and psychologists. In fact, many agree the world’s oldest joke was about a fart.
Growing up, my grandmother was the matriarch of our very large family. She was the one who, without ever having to say much at all, kept our large congregation on the right track. So, it may be shocking for some to read, but my fondest and most often recounted memories of my beloved grandmother were of her farting. Sometimes, when I am feeling a little low, I remember how a woman of such polite humbleness and grace…. Tooted.. many, many times while walking through our house in her housecoat and slippers one night. All within the audience of several young girls who were camping out in the living room during a sleep-over. Even now, as I recollect this incident, I am smiling, because I remember each little phht phht phht phht.. as she shuffled her slipper donned feet across the carpeted floor.. PHHHTTTT.. “Ahmmm.. pardon me”, she sweetly muttered when realizing her affluence could be overheard. Of course we laughed for hours, incapable of sleeping, because we kept giggling. For me, it was probably the first time in my life that I realized my grandmother was a human being too..
Did you know? Humor acts as a catalyst for joy, triggering chemical reactions in our brain that promote health and happiness. It is a universal language that transcends boundaries, connecting people across different cultures and experiences through shared moments of laughter. Beyond its immediate joy-inducing effect, humor has deep therapeutic qualities, offering respite from stress, alleviating pain, and bolstering our mental health. By understanding how laughter influences our body and mind, we can unlock its potential, not just as a source of fleeting amusement but as a cornerstone of holistic well-being.
Do you remember a time when flatulence actually helped a situation? Maybe the little toot, toot, pop, pop, gave way to a situational pause that allowed for cooler heads and balanced minds to prevail?
We invite you to connect with fellow Heroes by sharing your funny stories. Tell us how humor made a difference in your life or improved a situation by leaving a comment or uploading a file below.