'A merry heart is good medicine'

Women of Wellness Women's Expo deals with value of humor

By PAULA BARR
Daily Journal Staff Writer

You might have heard it said that “laughter is the best medicine.”

That saying is true, said Kathleen Passanisi, an expert in therapeutic humor who will speak at this year’s Women of Wellness Women’s Expo sponsored by Mineral Area Regional Medical Center,

“A merry heart really is good medicine,” she said. “The science behind that is solid. At the Expo, we are going to be dealing with the therapeutic value of humor.”

Passanisi is the guest speaker at the Oct. 29 Expo in the Civic Center complex in Farmington. This is the third year the hospital has held the event to raise awareness of the resources in the community for women’s physical, financial and overall well-being, said Kevin Thurman, director of marketing for the hospital.

From 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Civic Center, vendors in 50 booths will offer information on a wide variety of service, organizations and topics including financial institutions, not-for profit agencies, nursing homes, cosmetics, jewelry, hospice, chiropractic care and personal health.

Refreshments will be available and Twin Oaks will hold a wine tasting. Massages will be available and entertainment will be live music.

At 6:30 p.m., a sit down dinner will be held in Centene Center. Tickets are $20 each. Ticket holders will each receive a gift bag with more than $20 worth of goodies inside, Thurman said.

Passanisi will speak in the auditorium following dinner. The St. Louis area resident said that people can manage stress through humor and a change in perspective. If something is going to be funny later, why not just laugh about it now?

“There is as much comedy in life as tragedy but we don't take advantage of it when we're bogged down in the daily grind or hyped-up for yet another security alert,” she wrote on her Web site, http://www.kathleenpassanisi.com. “A sense of humor is one of the most valuable assets for shifting perspectives, improving health, and learning to live in a sprit of joy.”

Passanisi said that women are more likely than men to die from a first heart attack, and many times there were no warning signs. Laughter can help relieve stress that can lead to a heart attack.

“There are some things in this world that are never going to be funny,” she said. “But humor comes from pain. After all, good hair days are not funny — there has to be a glitch.”

Gold sponsors for this year’s Expo are McDonald’s, Ozark Federal Savings and Loan, Conservative Financial Services, Women’s Health and Wellness Center and the Midwest Health Group.

Paula Barr is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 172 or at pbarr@dailyjournalonline.com.

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