"Laughter is the best medicine" is no joke, as we shall see.

Many folks make all sorts of New Year's resolutions.

Trouble is, most of those good intentions last about as long as snowflake on a hot griddle.

Here's a two-word New year's resolution that can make you happier and healthier. Those around you will thank you for taking it up.

Ready to know what it is?

Drum roll, please...Be Happy.

That's it.

If you can learn to be happy, chances are it will increase your physical health, as well as your emotional well-being.

I've preached that for years. Those who know me will tell you two of my favorite sayings. One is, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade. The other saying is that if you can laugh, you can last.

It's validating to read that folks far smarter than I are saying the same thing.

A study out of the University of California at Irvine and the Loma Linda University School of Medicine showed that people who viewed a one-hour humorous video saw a decrease in the production of stress hormones that lasted 12 to 24 hours. Even anticipating seeing a funny video helped relieve stress, according to the study.

Laugh your way to good health? Don't well, laugh. According to Dr. William Fry of Stanford University, one minute of laughter equals 10 minutes on the rowing machine. Of course, I think laughter and walking a mile a day will get you more benefits than just laughing.

And still more news: RX Laughter, a project at UCLA's Jonssen Cancer Center, Mattel Children's Hospital and the Neuropsychiatric Institute and hospital, uses humor to help young people being treated for cancer and cerebral palsy. Research has shown that a positive attitude can give a better chance of recovery.

The wonderful thing about happiness is that you have the power to control it. It may take some practice to look on the bright side. It's an acquired skill, like riding a bicycle or always telling the truth.

For example, say you're racing to an appointment, the train comes through the intersection ahead of you, and you're stuck waiting. You can A. cuss and bang your fist against the steering wheel, or B. unwind, collect your thoughts.

It's your choice. Learn to work on the things you can change, accept what you can't, and be smart enough to know the difference.

It's hard to continue to be tense if you can have a good laugh. Makes watching Dumb and Dumber positively therapeutic, doesn't it?

When you've got the mopes, it can be hard to think positively. You know you should get a little workout, and that the workout will release endorphins, the body's natural "feel-good" chemicals.

But when you've got the blues, or flat-out depression, it can be hard to eat or sleep, and the thought of physical exercise makes you want to cry. So you grouch, and you mope, and you pig on comfort foods, and you start getting run down, which makes you an easier victim for illness. I think there is also a connection between depression and heightened stroke risk.

Want to be a better person? Learn to laugh at yourself, find humor wherever you can, and don't worry if things don't turn out exactly like you planned.

Does this philosophy work?

Absitively and posilutely.