About the year of 2007, I saw a piece on 60 Minutes that was especially intersting to me.  It was about one of the most humor-less places on Earth...the country of Finland!  As photos were taken of the people of Finland...in various segments of society...they did, in deed, look like a pretty humor-less society.  But, I didn't expect to see people in any society dancing in the streets or doing jumping jacke down the street, either!

The reporter, doing the story, has had and now has travelled all over the world in journalism, and has done stories in dozens of countries, and he said the Finnish society was the most bleak...more long-faces he had ever seen!  Somber looks everywhere he went.  It wasn't a look of a depressed society...it was just a look of long faces, lacking a little joy and humor, etc.  What could cause all this?  I don't remember the reporter saying why there are so many somber faces in Finland. 

A couple of years later, in 2009, I started learning about vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin...which is produced naturally by the body.  For those who spend some time in the sunshine, that is.  At the time, I didn't realize how much vitamin D affects all of our lives, etc.  As I learned more about vitamin D, the closer a person lives to the equator...the more vitamin D...and the further a person lives from the equator...for example in Finland...the less vitamin D.
Isn't that interesting?

Finland is about as close to the North Pole as you can get, along with the other Nordic countries like Sweden and Norway.  As I learned more about vitamin D...I thought back about that piece on 60 Minutes about the Finnish people.  I've never been to Europe, but I do know there are many cloudy days in Europe...England, Ireland...and probably in the northern countries as well.  But, I am not a scientist...

As I learned more about vitamin D...the United States started out as an agricultural society...and over the years urbanized into the cities and towns that we know today.  So, American's spent a lot of time outdoors.  And, in 1994...and with the coming with the Internet; video games; and 4 million channels on television...more and more American's spent less time outdoors...and more time indoors, etc.  The result of all this...less vitamin D (sunshine vitamin) 

After a few months of learning about vitamin D...and how it affects the body in a positive way...I made an appointment with my doctor, to check on my vitamin D.  I took the appropriate blood test, and I was told by my doctor that my vitamin D level was fine.  I would hope so, because I have spent a lot of time in the sun.  Since 1986, I walked and jogged 15 miles a week (outdoors) which translates to over 17,000 miles during that time.  Add to that...the fact that I have always walked wherever I go within a mile radius or so.  At the age of 65 in 2010, I don't drive anymore, and I don't miss driving, with all the inconsiderate people out there talking on their cell phones. 

I was concerned at this time in my life, because I had to make a lifestyle change and get off my feet, after an injury to one of my feet in 2009.  I didn't want to find myself in a wheelchair, so I had to make changes in my life.  I decided to get completle off my feet and get my exercise on one of those bikes that go no place. (stationary bike).  Now, because I would be spending more time indoors, I was worried about not getting enough vitiman D.  I could always go the route of supplements of vitamin D, etc. 

It was a real concern of mine at the time, because I learned the many things vitamin does for the body in a positive way.  I also thought about my father, who never spent any time outdoors.  I asked him a question one day, and I almost started laughing.  I asked him, "Have you ever walked or jogged around the block to get your exercise/"  And his answer, "Why should I walk or jog around the block, when I can just drive?"   I think many American's can relate to that answer. 

My father never spent any time, that I can remember out doors.  I was always indoors, and he was always sick of something...that sickly look about him!  People never wanted to be around him...because nobody wants to be around a sice person, etc. 

Could vitamin D have that much influence on the health of a person?  During the learning about vitamin D, I thought back to the people of Finland and my father.  The answer for me was YES! 

Could there be a correlation between taking vitamin D (sunshine) and vitamin H (humor)?

Because I'm not a doctor, I can't give medical advice on this piece, but I can certainly give humor advice which is;

Prescription:  Take a large dose of vitamin H (humor)...jest for the health of it...

SITEMAP; 350+ Links For Your Convenience;
Copyright; 2010; Jerry Aragon/The Humor Doctor
Website name; humordoctormd