IS LAUGHTER THE WORLD'S BEST MEDICINE? A SOLDIER STATIONED IN IRAQ THINKS SO!

What does laughter really do for a person, both physically and mentally?

"Love and laughter make the world go 'round."

How many times have we heard this?

What about the ever-popular, "Laughter is the best medicine." Are these actually true statements?

Do you notice a difference in your mood when you laugh?

While working from my home office, I run into daily challenges with my computer.

That's a silly thing to say, but I never know what will malfunction and have almost unconsciously begin to anticipate problems. That's a pretty disheartening realization and there's nothing funny about it.

There's mounds of work to be done and it seems all that is accomplished is "attempting" to correct a problem that is preventing me from completing what I started.

This process takes anywhere from a couple of hours to... who knows? I've spent 2 to 3 days trying to look something up and then when I think I've found a solution, my attempt to follow the instructions can either lead me to success or an even worse problem.

Since most of my work is done from home, having computer challenges can totally ruin the day.

As you can imagine, by the end of the week, I HATE COMPUTERS!

However, there's one ray of sunshine that helps me pick my chin up off the floor and helps me to clean up my act. I say "clean up my act" because, of course, by the end of the week my mouth has wholeheartedly taken on the character of my Dad's. He was a boxer in the Navy. I think you get my drift.

What is the one thing that helps me, literally, save my sanity?

It's reading Lisa Barker's weekly column, Jelly Mom, or just picking up her latest book, Just Because Your Kids Drive You Insane...Doesn't Mean You Are A Bad Parent!, and reading any story within. Sometimes, I just LOL (Laugh Out Loud) and instantly feel better.

Lisa is the mom of five kids, has multiple pets (mostly cats), and is married to a wonderful guy. He even extends a helping hand to me when I ask, or if I cry loud enough about whatever epic computer adventure I'm enduring.

If my husband happens to be home when I'm reading one of her columns or a page or two in her book, and he hears me laughing out loud, he knows that Jelly Mom has saved the day once again. In fact, he has also really enjoyed it.

It's not just for moms.

Jelly Mom is all about moms, motherhood, and the crazy things that can happen thanks to work, family, errands, doctor trips, household chores, kids, pets, and the million other things moms seem to be in charge of, especially if you work in the home and need piece and quiet.

Not more than a couple of days ago, Lisa received a note via her site, www.JellyMom.com and she shared it with me. It's so amazing that I'm going to share it with you, as I feel that I must!

"I am a Husband deployed to Iraq, and with Mother's Day looming, and my wife determined that the only thing she needs is me home, your book was just what I needed. Thank you very much."

See, I told you it was cool!

Whether it's Mother's Day, Father's Day, or whatever, just any old time you need a lift out of a gloomy, frustrating or REALLY bad day, pick up a copy of her book and watch your "ill" feelings disappear.

It doesn't matter if you're a mom, dad, grandparent, aunt, uncle, sister, or whatever, if you have kids in your life on any level, you'll love Lisa's book.

For one soldier, myself, and many others, Jelly Mom makes a huge difference in our daily lives.

And my fist-dented monitor is thankful for that.

© 2008 Jodie Lynn