Why Laughter Is Still The Best Medicine

Having a good laugh is one of the best feelings in the world. Laughter helps you fight stress, build immunity and forget your worries even for a while. You also look younger when you smile and laugh often. After all, it takes 65 muscles to frown and only 15 to smile. Your face will not only radiate happiness but make your more approachable to people too.

It is no joke that laughter is considered as the best medicine by many. Laughter has worked positively among people who are confined in hospitals or diagnosed with an illness. Although it does not cure or treat the underlying medical condition per se but laughing makes people feel good, and in a way, it helps them cope better with their sickness and promote faster recovery. Laughing is also innate in humans, as natural as breathing goes. And it is easy for us to smile and laugh whenever we find something amusing or funny.

 The saying goes that laughter is the best medicine and there’s no denying the fact that our spirits lift when we smile or laugh. But why exactly is it so therapeutic and what can we do to make sure humour remains a constant component of our everyday lives?

National Humour Month kicked off on 1st April. Also known as April Fool’s Day, 1st April is a day when it’s culturally OK to laugh, joke and prank our friends and family. The sentiment behind National Humour Month is more serious - it’s about raising awareness of the therapeutic value of humor; what happens to our bodies, our mental wellbeing and our quality of life when we laugh and joke.

(Via: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/professor-ewan-gillon-/its-national-humour-month_b_15826092.html)

While many of us find jokes funny, it is actually its delivery that makes people laugh even more, so surrounded yourself with happy people because their sunny disposition will likely rub off on you too. After all, the saying goes that “tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are,” couldn’t be any truer.

 The question of whether laughter is truly the best medicine for physical and psychological ailments has floated around the public for years. People have wondered if humor is a valid remedy when enduring trauma — and they may have reason to believe in its effectiveness.

According to a 2014 study conducted by Barbara Butler, a science librarian for the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Oregon, a positive emotional state may increase pain tolerance, enhance immunity and undo cardiovascular consequences of negative emotions.

Butler also concluded that using humor as a coping strategy may benefit physical health indirectly by moderating adverse effects of stress. William Fry, a psychology professor at Stanford University and one of the first scientists to suggest studying the effects of laughter, revealed in Butler’s study that humor and mirth contribute positively to maintaining health from a physiological standpoint.

In terms of cardiovascular benefits, Megan Robbins, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of California Riverside, said laughter reduces arterial stiffness while also providing exercise to ab muscles and others. Butler confirmed Robbins’ assertion of contributions to exercise by revealing that laughing out loud 20 times produces a cardiovascular workout similar to three minutes of work on a rowing machine.

(Via: http://arizonasonoranewsservice.com/laughter-may-increase-physical-and-emotion-well-being/)

Experts discovered a positive correlation between laughter and positive physical, mental and emotional well-being. Laughter promotes balance and renews the human mind and body, which in a way hastens recovery when one is sick or build immunity so one does not get sick often.

 Humor is a powerful healing agent, and not only for depression and anxiety. Here are just a few of the health benefits packed in laughter.

• Laughter Decreases Pain

• Laughter Boosts Immunity

• Laughter Reduces Stress

• Laughter Helps Prevent Heart Disease

• Laughter Burns Calories

(Via: http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/therese-borchard-sanity-break/health-benefits-of-laughing/)

Laughing is a great way for you to help deal with stress especially when you get sick all the time. It stimulates the production and release of endorphins known as the body’s happy hormones, which generally makes you feel good. You don’t always need expensive pills to boost your health. Sometimes, the simple act of laughing is all you need to combat sickness and leave you with a happy disposition in life.

But laughter may not always be the answer to your health issues. There are certain medical conditions where laughter is not enough to cure you and requires appropriate medical treatment to address it. At times it may involve having to take certain medications or undergoing specific procedures but still, you can benefit from the world’s natural stress reliever and painkiller as clinical studies have proven that the body recovers from illness faster when you are happy. So, I guess you have nothing to lose if your laugh often especially at times when nothing seems to go right because only then can you see the finer points in life.

Why Laughter Is Still The Best Medicine Read more on: The New Influencers Blog

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The Struggles Of Educating The Youth

Despite the many advancements in technology nowadays, a lot of people throughout the world still live in poverty and lacking even in the most basic of services. Many third world countries lack sufficient housing for the poor, access to clean water, regular food supply and so much more. While we can only see mostly good things on social media, many nations are actually ravaged by poverty and war and citizens are displaced leaving them with hungry tummies and devoid of material possessions.

While there is little we can do once nation leaders decide to attack each other, a good education can change your destiny and open up better opportunities in life. You need not suffer in an environment devoid of opportunities by chasing your dreams yourself and not wait for things to happen. In a world that is becoming increasingly global, competition is tough as people from different parts of the world compete for the same work positions in the digital world. The advantage, though, is that many new opportunities opened up that weren’t there before when the Internet still haven’t dominated the world. But despite how far we have come in the field of technology, the opposite could be said about the quality of our education.

Buoyed by Donald Trump’s championing of a voucher system—and cheered on by his education secretary Betsy DeVos—Arizona just passed one of the country's most thoroughgoing policies in favor of so-called “school of choice.” The legislation signed by Governor Doug Ducey allows students who withdraw from the public system to use their share of state funding for private school, homeschooling, or online education.

Making educational funding “portable” is part of a much wider political movement that began in the 1970s—known to scholars as neoliberalism—which views the creation of markets as necessary for the existence of individual liberty. In the neoliberal view, if your public institutions and spaces don’t resemble markets, with a range of consumer options, then you aren’t really free. The goal of neoliberalism is thereby to rollback the state, privatize public services, or (as in the case of vouchers) engineer forms of consumer choice and market discipline in the public sector.

(Via: https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/04/is-school-choice-really-a-form-of-freedom/523089/)

Many were actually against the appointment of DeVos as the Education Secretary but the sentiments of the masses do not really matter that much to President Trump, who knows so little as well about Politics as his appointee. But hopefully, he proves the naysayers wrong and gives importance to the education of the American youth if he really wants to make America great again.

Just weeks after President Donald Trump proposed axing $9 billion in federal education programs, he said his administration is planning to “spend a lot of money” on education in order to increase the number of students graduating with the skills needed to fill current employment gaps.

“We’re going to spend a lot of money … and we’re going to get some great talent having to do with education because there is nothing more important than education,” he said at a town hall for CEOs Tuesday morning.

The comments were in response to a question about how the administration might help better prepare students to graduate with the skills CEOs are looking for, in particular through the expansion of apprenticeship programs and public-private partnerships.

(Via: https://www.usnews.com/news/education-news/articles/2017-04-04/trump-promises-to-spend-big-on-education-weeks-after-proposing-billions-in-cuts)

When you look closely, it is easy to understand why the American economy has suffered badly over the years. It is because more American youth end up joining the workforce early on rather than going to colleges and universities and earning their degrees. The tuition fee is so expensive that even those who manage to graduate are deep in debt even years after they graduated. Aside from that, the world is changing, so is the marketplace. The job mismatch is more evident than ever with many students graduating not possessing the right skills needed by most companies.

Technology is advancing at such a fast rate. Students should be aware of all these advancements if they want to stay competitive and be hired by the best companies in the country. Another problem that also hurts the job prospects of many Americans is that many companies hire from off-shore to save money without sacrificing quality. If the American workforce can provide the manpower needed by these companies, they no longer need to hire employees from thousands of miles away. All these are only possible if the government can prioritize education over other things like warfare and defense. The country needs to get back on track and it needs smart and skilled workers with a degree on their belts to give a boost to the country’s failing economy.

The Struggles Of Educating The Youth is republished from NewInfluencers.com

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/the-struggles-of-educating-the-youth/

The Senate’s Health Care Bill: Pass Or Fail?

Health is as important as education to the public. They play a major role in uplifting the quality of our lives and both (education and health) also requires money, a lot of it. How ironic. These two should actually be the top priorities of the government. Not all governments are perfect but it’s not acceptable for them to compromise the health and well-being of the public because of personal vested interests. That’s how many Americans feel about the possible repeal of Obamacare. Although Obamacare has its flaws, it has its finer points that should not be totally ignored as well.

There has been a lot of drama already regarding its repeal since President Trump assumed office. He, for starters, is hell bent on getting Obama’s legacy rendered obsolete and irrelevant in Trump’s America. Starting from discussions in the House and now in the Senate, Republicans and Democrats make up a good fight. But then, should they really be arguing over this issue because of party affiliations when they should be thinking of the public’s welfare every single time?

We’ve seen this movie before. Republicans, after a secretive drafting process, finally unveil a health care bill. But the initial reaction is tepid, with both moderate and conservative Republicans expressing “concerns” and demanding changes to the bill.

That’s what happened when the House Republican leadership released their health care bill, the American Health Care Act, in March. And that’s what happened on Thursday, when Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released the Senate’s version of a health care bill, called the Better Care Reconciliation Act.

Soon after the BCRA was officially released, four conservative senators — Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Ron Johnson — issued a statement saying they were “not ready to vote for this bill,” although they also said they were “open to negotiation” about it. This was hardly the only opposition to the bill, however. According to the Washington Post’s whip count, five other relatively moderate Republicans — Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Dean Heller, Rob Portman and Shelley Moore Capito — said they had serious concerns with the bill, ranging from its defunding Planned Parenthood to its cutting funds for Medicaid.

(Via: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/will-the-senate-pass-its-health-care-bill/)

Trump has been pressuring Democrat legislators into passing this new health care bill for months now and he wasn’t even subtle in doing it. Everyone can tell how badly he wants to get Obamacare replaced for good and overhaul the US health care system. It’s not a joke what they are doing now because the fate (and health) of millions of Americans are at the mercy of what these senators decide to vote for.

The health-care proposal unveiled by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday came under immediate attack from conservative and centrist Republican senators as well as industry officials, casting the bill’s viability into doubt even as GOP leaders plan to bring it to a final vote next week.

The 142-page bill, which McConnell (R-Ky.) released after weeks of drafting it in secrecy, drew swift criticism from hard-right senators who argued it does not go far enough in undoing Barack Obama’s signature health-care law, the Affordable Care Act. It also prompted an outcry from centrist senators and medical organizations worried that it takes on the law, known as Obamacare, too aggressively and would lead to millions losing their health care or receiving fewer benefits.

These critics effectively delivered their opening bids in what is expected to be a contentious week of negotiations. 

(Via: https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/senate-gop-leaders-set-to-unveil-health-care-bill/2017/06/22/56dbe35c-5734-11e7-a204-ad706461fa4f_story.html?utm_term=.b085702846c1)

Republicans tried to address different controversial provisions to ensure it will get the necessary votes for it to overthrow Obamacare from its spot but it was not an easy feat because they faced a lot of criticisms right from the start. However, it won’t be long before all of America finally finds out what the verdict will be and many are nervous in anticipation as to what the winning vote will be. It’s hard not being covered by a health insurance these days because it is expensive to get sick. You can die if you don’t have the cash to burn in health care institutions. There’s a lot at stake here and the public is hoping that whatever the result will be, they won’t be on the losing end.

The blog post The Senate’s Health Care Bill: Pass Or Fail? is available on The New Influencers

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/the-senates-health-care-bill-pass-or-fail/

Activism Takes Over Social Media

Social media is the hottest thing to hit the planet these days. Everyone is glued to their screens, busy browsing through various social networks. If you think about it, social media has become an obsession for many – addiction to selfies among other things. Who would’ve thought we could all become stars in our own rights. After all, it is our wall and we are free to post whatever we want.

And considering how widespread social media is the world over, it has also served as an effective platform for different causes. Businesses take advantage of search engine optimization including social media to promote and grow their brand in the digital world. Even world leaders and news organizations utilize social media to reach the people and deliver important news and updates that involves the state and the welfare of its people. No wonder we also see a rise in social media activists who voice out their opinions and influence the public by posting through various social media channels.

Last week, The Cavalier Daily’s Editorial Board argued in favor of social media as a way to make causes visible for social activism. The board asserted that social media “expediently disseminates information and effectively unites people for a single cause.” This argument is valid, but the board greatly overestimates the impact of social media as a singular tool for change. Though it is a tool that can bring citizens together, it is not an omnipresent way to automatically start a social movement. Additionally, the board championed social media as a way to turn “local news into global news.” By presenting an overly broad argument about the effects of social media on activist movements, the board undercut the complexity of activist movements and overestimated the ability of the average person to make change using social media.

The assertion that social media can turn local news into global stories, while valid, is grossly overestimated. Social media websites can reach large groups of people — particularly when posts are actively spread — but they can also be a wasteland where interesting news and important issues are hidden amongst memes and cat videos. Social media is also rendered ineffective without active users sharing posts from person to person. Though the platforms represent a way for citizens to assert their beliefs and advertise for events, movements can be stunted before they get off the ground if they do not inspire immediate interest from users. One of the biggest misconceptions about social media platforms is that they reach all users around the world and are the easiest way to unite all citizens for social movements.

(Via: http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2017/03/the-reality-of-social-media-activism)

However, it has its drawbacks like any other thing on the planet. While we assume that the majority of the population are into social media in our tech-craze world, a big number of people still don’t have access to the Internet or even have social media accounts. And as such, it is not fair to think that whatever is shown on social media is really the sentiment of everyone when many others don’t actually have an idea what is going on over the World Wide Web. So, how can activists utilize social media properly?

 In this age of internet activism, there have been moments, Kony 2012 or the Ice Bucket Challenge, that have painted the public’s understanding of activism in the digital age. Was their success purely random chance? Or is there a formula for starting a movement? While generating heaps of online attention is admirable, much valid criticism stems from the notion that such one-offs generate little tangible impact in the “real world”.

While the ability to instantly reach thousands if not millions of people online has opened entirely new possibilities for organizers, building and sustaining a movement requires more than does a viral one-off.

• Identify achievable goals

• Honor your volunteers

• Understand the (social) media

(Via: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabrickman/2017/03/22/three-commandments-for-online-activism/#1a95bc4d2f4d)

Activists no longer raises up their placards on the streets, shouting until their throats run dry or having to endure the heat of the sun. Social media is a more convenient option to make your voice heard by more people with just a few clicks.

 When you type be ready to act too. The power of words can transform into action. The power of social media as activism is simply an amazing thing. If you have a strong enough message you can use it for the benefit of others; reaching those who have the same voice, to drive awareness and charity campaigning. When news needs to travel fast there is nothing like Twitter. An idea can spread in minutes. Some friends and I wanted to help the refugees in Calais and in two weeks, purely through the power of Twitter and social media, ‘Help Refugees’ aid arrived in Calais.

But we have to be careful that we don’t replace activism with a status update. It’s so easy to make a bold statement online and feel like you’re actively adding to a cause, movement or view. But moaning on Facebook to 500 people you haven’t seen for 10 years isn’t being socially minded, it’s having a rant to people who don’t really care. Typing your feelings is a temporary relief; getting a ‘like’ can be an instant way to salve your conscience, but it’s not changing anything. If you’re experiencing sexism in the work place, then walk in and confront it. Don’t anonymize it online.

(Via: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dawn-porter/social-media-power_b_15687486.html)

In a world that is continually in conflict, we get to enjoy the benefits offered by social media not only in uniting people with the same interests but in showing the world what causes really matter to the public. When used right, social media can help mobilize people to help achieve a bigger goal, whether it is during an electoral campaign or an important fundraising. But social media activism isn’t all about just posting something on social media, it is so much more.

Everything posted on the Internet stays forever. Whether you delete a post, chances are someone already took a screenshot of it that may be the reason for your undoing. But even if not, you can get into a heated argument because of an insensitive comment or a poorly typed status update consisting of all 140 characters. For social media activism to work, your posts should reach the people and organizations who can help you fight for your cause, perhaps with the help of using the right hashtags or more.

The following blog article Activism Takes Over Social Media is available on https://www.newinfluencers.com

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/activism-takes-over-social-media/