Happy Joke Day!  And Happy July too! Yes, the year is officially half-way through, which is hard to believe. But while it's time to get serious and buckle down on what we want to get our of 2021, today is an opportunity to sit back and have a laugh at everything so far.   Jokes have likely been told since man first looked at himself in a pool of water and passed judgment on his own complexion. We definitely have jokes from Ancient Greece and Rome even if the punchline doesn't really hit as hard as it used to.   Do you think you’re funny? Do you like to make other people laugh? Laughter is a universally recognized expression of amusement and you can learn a lot about other people and cultures by their humor. We all know that jokes don't always translate well and have seen some go right over the listener's head even when in the same language. But we aren't going to let that stop us and Joke Day is the perfect day to tell a joke to friends, family, or anyone whose attention you can grab to make them guffaw, groan, or giggle.  Telling a good joke doesn't just put a smile on other people's faces but also your own. There's really no shame in laughing at your own jokes. They say that laughter is the best medicine, and a lot of people would agree with this! After all, there are actually a lot of health benefits that are associated with laughing. Laughter doesn't just bring people together but also triggers healthy emotional and physical changes in the body.  Laughter can help to protect you from the damaging impact of stress, diminish physical and mental pain, boost your mood, and strengthen your immune system. Nothing workers more dependably or quicker to bring your body and mind back into balance than a good old laugh. Humor also keeps you alert, focused, and grounded, as well as connecting you to others, inspiring hope, and lightening your burden. Believe it or not, it can also help you to forgive sooner and release anger too.   You may have also heard that laughter is a good way to burn calories, and this is true too! Of course, this does not mean that you should replace going to the gym with laying on the sofa and watching your favorite comedian. However, one study concluded that you can burn around 40 calories if you laugh for between 10 and 15 minutes each day. Over the year, this could be enough to lose around four pounds!  So, if you're worried about how to land the best jokes we have some tips to help you deliver like a pro.  - Have fun! If you are not having fun, how do you expect your audience to laugh and enjoy themselves as well? - Communication and personality are critical. Comics light up the room before even telling a joke because they are emotive and present.  - Know your audience. After all, different people find different things funny so keep this in mind when you are thinking about the sort of joke to tell.  - Confidence is key. Your stage presence, even if you are not on a stage, can be the difference as to whether your joke lands or not. - Get the timing right. This is something that is linked to confidence. Some people rush through jokes when they are nervous, and this can throw everything off.  Anyway, go out and do your best to make the world laugh. You might not get everyone rolling on the floor laughing out loud but I bet you can at least crack a few smiles.  If you have any questions or topics you would like me to talk about in future videos, please drop a comment below or shoot me an email at info@fitandable.net! And, if you don't mind, please share this with your friends and family; they might hear something that helps them out. t!   Thank you for racing with Fit & Able.