North Idaho Alliance Women of Impact: Let’s all de-stress

Why did the cowboy get a dachshund? Because someone told him, get a long little doggie. Where do bad rainbows go? Prism. It’s a light sentence and gives them time to reflect.

Dad jokes (or bad jokes) make me chuckle. I look each day in The Press to see the Ghastly Groaner. They usually are quite bad, but I laugh anyway.

According to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Basel, laughing can actually help ease the negative effects of stress. The study finds even cracking a smile can help ease the negative effects of stress. For participants who frequently laughed, stressful events were more related to minor symptoms of personal stress. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the stresses of life, just let out a chuckle or two. Apparently, people laugh about 18 times a day, usually during interactions with others or when they’re enjoying life.

Can’t find the funny? Try a comedy show.

Comedy has long been a male-dominated industry, but over the past few decades, the best female comedians of all time have been paving the way for more women to take the stage and deliver hilarious performances. Now there’s no shortage of talented women making their mark in the world of stand-up comedy. Women have left a lasting impression on the stand-up comedy industry, blazing the trail for future generations of comedians. Not only were they funny, but they were also groundbreaking in their approach to humor and challenging societal norms.

Pioneers of female comedians include Mom’s Mabley, Sophie Tucker, May West, Lucille Ball, Gilda Radner, Carol Burnett and Jane Curtin — but it was Phillis Diller who is often referred to as the first female stand-up celebrity. In fact, Diller was so popular she once held the Guinness World Record for most laughs per minute (and I met her once)!

Another recent pioneer was Joan Rivers. Rivers was known as the TV funny gal. Starting on the Ed Sullivan show, she become the first regular guest host on The Tonight Show and went on to host her own, the Late Night with Joan Rivers. And finally, who can forget Betty White. She was Americas’ sweetheart comedian living well into her 90s and beloved for her quick wit and famine beauty. What a doll!

So laugh today. De-stress. You know what they say — laughter is the best medicine. By the way. The Ghastly Groaner for today: Why doesn’t the sun go to university? It already has a million degrees. (Thanks to the Coeur d'Alene Press for keeping me healthy!)

• • •

Marilee Wallace, IOM, president/CEO of the North Idaho Alliance Women of Impact.

The Women of Impact Leadership Roundtable meets once a month for a nine-month series, and we base our agenda on the word IMPACTED. We will begin our next series Sept. 27 and meet monthly through May. To see the lineup of our monthly topics and to get details or view additional programs NIA is offering to Impact women in our region, please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/THENIALLIANCE.