Green Options » laughter

Orangutans Change Their Gestures Until Understood - Ape Charades?

Michael Ricciardi — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:15:19 +0000

[social buttons]

Of the great apes–a group that includes chimps, gorillas, and bonobos–the orangutan (found only in the tropical rain forests of Sumatra and Borneo islands) is the most endangered, currently. Recent wild fires, tribal conflicts and on-going deforestation has seriously dwindled their total habitat. Some primatologists believe that the orangutan is the closest primate relative to humans–more than even the chimpanzee.

Ideas for Cultivating More Love, Gratitude and Inner Beauty in Your Life

Lucille Chi — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:55:10 +0000

Get together with friends and laugh. Laughing increases vitality, cleanses energy, and brings the mind and body into harmony and balance. Laughter not only boosts beauty, it also increases the release of joy increasing endorphins!
Cultivate gratitude with daily lists. Taking one minute each morning to write down a handful of things you have to be grateful for jumps starts the day on a good note.
Create your personal mood boosting meditations. This is so simple, as all you need is your memory, to remind you of your favorite place, and find some headphones with relaxing music or focus on your natural rhythmic breathing in silence.
Read more of this story »

Laugh a Little to Feel Good All Over

Lucille Chi — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:41:14 +0000

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. ~ e e cummings

Previously we shared some ways to boost happiness, and now let’s find out more about the benefits of laughter.

Laughing increases vitality, cleanses energy, and brings the mind and body into harmony and balance. Laughter also increases the release of joy increasing endorphins!

“In Seven Pointers to Lift a Bad Mood” Dr. Mao tells us:

“No one can live a long and healthy life without the will to go on; sometimes mood swings can make us feel that life is too much for us. A bad mood not only gives you a gloomy outlook, it also lowers your immune function, leading the way to illness.” He recommends “Laugh Therapy,” pioneered by Norman Cousins.

As it turns out laughter is the number one prescription for a bad mood. For example, laughter and joy boost immune functions, especially the production of natural defense cells in the body that protect us from illness and cancer.

Extra body benefits of a good laugh include:

Secret Mom Tricks

Beth Bader — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:51:39 +0000

Earth Day is nearly past, but there’s a few minutes left to just have a laugh after a day of celebration. I’m about to share my double-secret mom tricks. Now, keep these to just us parents, right?

Now and then, we parents have to be creative. Someday, if our kids are lucky, we’ll share these secrets when they have kids of their own. Maybe. Or maybe we’ll just have a bit of a laugh first then let them in on it. (fun after the jump).

The Environment: Not A Laughing Matter?

Gavin Hudson — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 16:38:30 +0000

I once had someone suggest to me that environmentalists didn’t have enough fun. Granted, that person was a flame-throwing stilt walker, so her idea of fun might be a bit different from yours and mine. But the question remains: do environmentalists take themselves too seriously?

Now you may be shocked by this question. I was. I mean, if you can’t see the fun in trying to save the world from global warming and mass species extinction you, er… and then I started to see her point.

You may notice that not a lot of people consider environmental issues a laughing matter. Crack a joke too close to hot environmental issues and you’ll receive stern glances from all corners of the room, as Jon Stewart can attest. In an interview with Bill Moyers, he laments hearing back from viewers, "your show is so funny, until you made a joke about global warming, which is a serious issue, and I can’t believe you did that!"

On the one hand, environmental issues are serious and they require a concerted effort to address. But the environmental movement also risks alienating people with its stern demeanor. Think PETA and the EPA are cuddly? Historically, PETA, with its dour streams of abused animal images, has about as much popular sex appeal as a horny toad (nothing against the Phrynosomatidae family). Sure, the nude vegan ad campaign and the glam vegan celeb videos help to soften the organization’s edge a little. Still, not too many of us would associate the organization with a sense of mirth. The EPA as well—aside from its starring role as the unlikely villain in this summer’s Simpsons Movie—doesn’t yet have what it takes to make people smile.

People respond well to a good-humored attitude. In a decidedly un-environmental example, the box store corporation, Target, benefited from a popular laugh at its own image as a purveyor of cheap goods with the tongue-in-cheek French pronunciation, Targé. The environmental movement could use a similar sense of good humor.

So how do we as environmentalists stop and smell the flowers that we’re trying to save? On Tuesday, we’ll start with a look at ways to save the planet while at the same time not missing the chance to cut loose, laugh, dance, joke and live it up!

References and Resources:

EPA Home

PETA Home

Bill Moyers talks with Jon Stewart | PBS

Photo Source:

Laugh Out Loud | Flickr

Laughter is the Best Medicine, So Give Us a Dose…

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 17:49:58 +0000

On Monday, we announced the Green Options The Lighter Side of Green contest, and we've been really pleased with the response we've received. Of course, we'd love to see more contest submissions, so if you think you can make us laugh, take your shot at a $100 cash prize and a starter contract as GO's resident funny man or woman.

Having trouble thinking of a topic for your 250-500 word column? That's probably not because there's not enough material out there; rather, there may be too much! Nothing's off limits: our personal habits and quirks, the statements of politicians and/or activists, or even the statements and actions of green critics are all fair game. We're looking for light humor vs. biting satire; poking fun vs. roasting over the coals.

February 1st, the contest deadline, is getting close — one week from today. Send your submissions to lighterside@greenoptions.com.

Tickle Our Funny Bone… and We’ll Hire You!

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 14:46:46 +0000

Let’s face it: those of us living and promoting the green life can be awfully serious. That’s understandable, as we’re dealing with serious issues like climate change, resource depletion and ecological degradation.

At Green Options, though, we know that green can be fun. In fact, we even believe it can be downright hilarious! And we’re pretty certain that some of you also see the lighter side of the green life.

With that in mind, we’re pleased to announce the Green Options A Lighter Side of Green contest. We’re pretty sure that there’s a green Dave Barry or Art Buchwald out there, and we want to find that writer and hire him or her. The contest winner will receive a one-month starter contract to write for Green Options, and $100.If you think you’ve got the goods to tickle our funny bones, write a 250-500 word column that addresses some element of the green life in a humorous manner, and send it to lighterside@greenoptions.com in MS Word or rich text format by February 1st. Feel free to poke fun at your fellow greenies (we can use it occasionally!).

When we launch on February 5th, we’ll publish all of the contest entries, and ask for comments from GO readers. On February 12th, we’ll announce the winning entry (which will be chosen by the Green Options staff). Once we work out details with that writer, we’ll start featuring his or her work in a weekly column.

We’re moving quickly on this one, so don’t wait around – February 1st is the deadline for entries. We’re looking forward to laughing a lot…!