In 1979, Norman Cousins, the editor-in chief of the Saturday Review for more than three decades, was told that he had only six months to live because of a crippling disease. It began with aches and fever, and within a week it became difficult for him to move his neck, arms, or legs, and to turn over in bed also became extremely painful. The consensus was that he was suffering from a serious collagen illness—a disease of the connective tissue. There was no cure.

Despite a one in five-hundred chance of recovery, while doctors administered medications, Cousins decided to fight his illness with a change in attitude, employing a simple strategy—laughter. He revealed how he regained his health in a bestselling book, Anatomy of an Illness

In the hospital, nurses read to Cousins from books of humor, and when he went home, he watched comedies, funny movies, and listened to stand-up comedians. He told his friends to call him every time they heard of something funny. “I made a joyous discovery,” he said, “that ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep.”

After surviving his own ordeal, Norman Cousins started helping patients with chronic pain. He would conduct sessions encouraging each patient to share something they were grateful for. He told his own funny stories and listened and laughed as others told theirs. As the sessions continued, laughing and clapping would fill the room. When all was quiet, Cousins would say, “How many of you noticed in the last five or ten minutes that your chronic pain receded or disappeared?” Sometimes every hand would go up. In this way, Norman Cousins lived another twenty years.

Studies have shown that laughter produces endorphins—happy brain chemicals. They act as natural pain killers. A Harvard study revealed that the more a person laughs and approaches life positively, the fewer chronic diseases that person will develop, because laughter boosts the immune system.

A study at the University of Maryland on laughter suggests: “If you feel a sniffle or sore throat coming on, go see a rip-roaring comedy to boost your immune system.”

ActiveBeat.com reports that laughter can help those suffering depression and that it can improve one’s overall outlook on life.

Ecclesiastes says, “There is a time to laugh and a time to cry.” In Proverbs 17:22, we find: “A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing.” Job 8:21 reads: “God will fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with joyful shouting.”

The famous southern author Flannery O’Conner said, “Only if we are secure in our beliefs can we see the comical side of the universe.”

Charles Swindoll wrote a book called Laugh Again, in which he says, “Tough times are upon us, no question. The issues we all face are both serious and real. But are they so intense, so all-important, so serious and all-consuming that every expression of joy should be eclipsed? Sorry, I can’t buy that.”

With this in mind, I’m considering giving up Fox News and CNN viewing for a while. I can borrow some I Love Lucy DVDs from the library and just laugh out loud.