MSI Press Blog

  We often think of laughter as emotional — a reaction to something funny, a moment of shared joy. But the body treats laughter as medicine. It doesn’t distinguish between a witty remark and a deliberate chuckle in a laughter‑yoga class. Either way, the physiological response is powerful. 🌿 Endorphins: The Body’s Natural Painkillers When we laugh, the brain releases endorphins — those “feel‑good” chemicals that lift mood and dull pain. They’re the same compounds that flood the system after exercise or a moment of deep connection. Endorphins don’t just make us happy; they help the body relax enough to begin repairing itself. Pain feels smaller. Hope feels larger. 💆 Stress Hormones: Lowered by Laughter Chronic stress floods the body with cortisol and adrenaline, hormones that keep us alert but also suppress the immune system when they linger too long. Humor interrupts that cycle. A genuine laugh lowers stress hormones, giving the immune system space to recover and respond. It’s a p...

People assume news reporting is about deadlines, interviews, and the ability to type while drinking lukewarm coffee. They are wrong. It is about cats . Specifically, my cat — who has spent years training me in the fine art of feline journalism. I didn’t realize it at first, of course. Cats are subtle. They don’t hand you a syllabus. They simply supervise you until you improve. 1. She taught me investigative persistence A good reporter never gives up on a lead. A good cat never gives up on a closed door. My cat will paw, scratch, yowl, and perform interpretive dance until the door opens. She does not care about obstacles. She does not care about logic. She does not care that the door leads to a broom closet. She wants in , and she will get in . This is exactly the energy required to chase down a source who keeps saying, “Can we talk next week?” 2. She trained me in stealth observation Cats are the original paparazzi. They appear silently, stare unblinking, and vanish before you can ask...

Donnie was slow...at typing...bac in the day when typewriters were in use. Yep, that dates us. I imagine many kids today do not even know what a typewriter is. But Donnie did even though he did not use it. He handed his typing to me. Not smart! I am the one who is oblivious to detail--and it kept showing up in typos that not only slipped out but also slipped past and right out into the public world where Donnie needed them to be accurate, not inaccurate, sometimes funny, and often embarrassing. Three little examples...(but I could share a host more!). But perhaps the fact that all three examples come from one resume is "nuff said." First error. Donnie was born in 1948. Now, how that got converted to 1848, I don't know. Definitely, Donnie was not making a start to becoming as old as Methusaleh, and anyone reading the resume should have understood that. (There were other dates on the resume that would have quickly pointed to this as a typo.) Second error. Just one missing l...

  Humor helps healing because it changes both the body’s chemistry and the mind’s stance toward pain , giving people a way to cope, connect, and regain perspective. ⭐ Core takeaway Humor reduces stress hormones, releases endorphins, strengthens resilience, and helps people reframe painful experiences — all of which support emotional and physical healing. 🧠 How humor helps the body heal Releases endorphins , the body’s natural “feel‑good” chemicals, which improve mood and reduce physical pain. Lowers stress hormones that can weaken the immune system. Relaxes muscles and reduces tension, making the body feel safer and calmer. Even non-humorous laughter (like laughter yoga) reduces pain, depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. These physiological shifts create a state where healing — emotional or physical — becomes more possible. 🛡️ How humor protects the mind Humor can act as a psychological defense mechanism , helping people handle experiences that would otherwise feel overwh...

  My cat has never billed a single hour, never drafted a motion, and certainly never attended a CLE. Yet somehow she has become the most influential mentor in my legal career. She runs a full continuing‑education program in this house, and I am—regrettably but undeniably—her star pupil. Lesson 1: Stealth is a litigation skill. She can cross a room without making a sound, materializing beside me like a furry apparition. I learned to do the same when slipping into court with a stack of last‑minute exhibits. A quiet entrance is sometimes the most strategic one. Lesson 2: Cross‑examination begins with curiosity. My cat interrogates every grocery bag, every closed door, every suspicious rustle. She does not assume; she investigates. I adopted her method: assume nothing, inspect everything, and never let a fact escape without being sniffed—metaphorically, of course. Lesson 3: Negotiation is 90% posture. When she wants something, she sits three feet away, fixes me with a steady g...