A Merry Little Column

It is a festive time of the year. For most, despite the exhaustion, it is a happy time of the year. For some, their happiness comes from family togetherness, parties and presents. For others, their joy comes from a reflection on the roots of celebrations. But regardless of what brings you comfort and joy, from Thanksgiving and through the New Year, there is time to celebrate, reflect and renew. The advent of a new calendar year is often a starting point for new behaviors or simply putting one year to rest and getting “a fresh start.” It signals a finality that can help some to cope with a particularly difficult past year.

One thing that is always helpful, no matter what stressors a situation brings, is to keep a sense of humor and remember to laugh. According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter is a great stress reliever. The article states that in the long term, laughter may improve the immune system, relieve pain, increase personal satisfaction and improve mood.

Following are some thoughts on family and children that were forwarded in an email to me. (The author may be Ansley ReynoldsIII, but that is not clear.) Whoever wrote these thoughts has a great perspective on life. Some of these “great truths” really hit home and hopefully will bring a smile to your heart.  I hope you enjoy these “merry, little” sayings.

• “Raising teenagers is like nailing Jello to a tree.”
• “Families are like fudge, mostly sweet with a few nuts.”
• “Laughing is good exercise. It’s like jogging on the inside.”
• “Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.”
• “Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.”
• “Never hold a cat and a hairdryer at the same time.”
• “Don’t trust your dog to watch your hot dog for you.”
• “Don’t sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.”
• “You know you are getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you got when riding a roller coaster.”
• “Time may be a great healer, but it is a lousy beautician.”
• “You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.”
• “Today’s mighty oak is just yesterday’s nut that held its ground.”
• “You know you are old when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.”
• “No matter how hard you try, you can’t baptize a cat.”
• “Wrinkles don’t hurt.”

If you can laugh as you pursue your daily tasks, you may find greater enjoyment in all that you do. May peace, joy, hope and love come to your home in the New Year.  Column prepared by V. Deborah Culligan, Coordinator of Health Education, Quinnipiack Valley Health District, 203 248-4528.