Question: What do you call a boomerang that doesn't come back? Answer: A stick!

Laughter does much more than tickle your funny bone. Assuming you found some humor in this joke, here's what happened in your body - just because you laughed.

Your heart was exercised as your heart rate and blood pressure increased, then relaxed. This improved your circulation. Your eyes cleansed themselves. Your body released chemicals to help reduce inflammation in your body. Your intake of oxygen-rich air was enhanced since you inhaled and exhaled more forcefully. (This is the opposite of the breathing pattern associated with tension.) And, the stomach muscles you used to laugh massaged your internal organs, improving your digestion.

In your immune and endocrine systems, there was an increase in the number and activity of cells which strengthen your body's natural ability to fight off illness and disease (including some types of cancer). And, there was a decrease in the amount of stress hormones which constrict blood vessels and suppress the immune system. Laughter also released some of your body's natural pain killers (adrenaline, endorphins and enkephalins) which increased your feeling of overall well-being.

Much of this information is from research being conducted in a new field of science called psychoneuroimmunology or PNI - the study of how behavior, the nervous system and the immune system are interrelated. Or, how we think can affect how we feel. This being the case, many doctors are considering adding mirthful laughter to their repertoire of preventative and therapeutic medical strategies.

In addition to all its physical benefits, laughter also benefits us psychologically and socially:

Are you inspired now to have more laughter in your day? Here are some ideas and activities you can do to strengthen your sense of humor:

Humor, of course, is not a total panacea. In some situations it's completely inappropriate. Nor should humor be used to avoid reality or negative emotional states. Rather, it should be used to provide relief from life's seriousness and challenges. And, it could be a matter of laugh or death.

Soooo ... now that you know the benefits of humor, can you define frustration? Answer: Buying a new boomerang and finding it impossible to throw the old one away . . .