Laugh Out Loud - For a Healthy Lifestyle

When we hear, think, read or practice “healthy living”, we often think of eating right, getting enough exercise, and even making sure that we get the recommended hours of sleep, you know, doing all the physical stuff that’s suppose to make us healthy.  But, one thing that is not often talked about is healthy relationships, especially with family.                  

Healthy relationships with family are important, because these are the people that you see the most and have the most contact with throughout your life.  If you don’t have a good relationship with them, then more than likely other relationships will fail too.  This weekend I went to Stockbridge, GA to visit an Aunt who has just purchased a “beautiful” home in that area of Georgia (how she got to this point is a blessing in and of its self). 

It was wonderful to see family that I don’t get to see on a regular basis, talk about old times and just laugh and enjoy their company. We sat around and talked about the things we use to do when we were growing up and the fun we use to have when we all would get together.  I laughed all weekend long.  On our drive back home, I realized that I wasn’t stressed, I was in a good mood and not only me, but everyone who went along on the trip were in a place of peace and tranquility.

This peace and tranquility didn’t come from a bottle or other mood altering substances; it came from laughter and just being around family.  In no way am I implying that we don’t have our share of problems and situations, because Lord in Heaven knows we do, but at the end of a day, after every tear has been shed, the truth spoken and everything has been laid out, we know that we all love each other and would do anything in the world for each other.

I’m blessed to have a family that I can honestly say I love.  I’m thankful because I know people who can’t say this.  I’m blessed to have grown up in a family that has always been close.  When I say family I mean mother, father, sister, brother, aunts, uncles, cousin, etc.   Now you know there’s always one or two in the bunch that try to place a damper on the good times, but when you have enough love flowing, love stops the negativity from taking hold and taking over. 

No matter how much you eat right, exercise, how much rest and relaxation you get, if you don’t strive to have happy relationships, are you really healthy?  The mind and the heart go hand in hand; one can’t work without the other.  So take the time to Laugh Out Loud!