‘Gigo’ – but who is he?  Is he Gigi’s long lost brother? A new musical?

In computer terms he would stand for, “Garbage In, Garbage Out!”  But today, I’m going to have him stand for, “Giggle In, Giggle Out!”

This is because Lady Penelope and I did something rather lovely – and rather accessible for many of us. We went to a Matinee performance! Yes, we went to a local Cinema, ‘The Rex’, run by volunteers and utterly charming. We went in daylight and left in daylight. And we went to see a Children’s film!

The film was, “Paddington in Peru.” It has had mixed reviews but we were determined to enjoy both it and ourselves. We were in no way disappointed. It was the best day of the week - possibly the best day for months.

The film provides giggles-aplenty, a real feel-good antidote to the News and the world of grey the weather has been providing (although, to be fair, we have had some sunny days!) I was so uplifted that I decided to watch Paddington I and II when I got back to Netflix. Three funny films in one day – and what a positive effect they all had. We regularly remind ourselves, here on Moodscope, that laughter is the best medicine.

Interestingly, for me, my normal taste is for dystopian Science Fiction series.  Paddington is not serious, a family film, a film for the children. And yet it proved, once more, the power of laughter to impact our mental health.

I know enough about neuroscience to know that we are affected by what we watch. Our mirror neurons help us experience what we’re watching second hand. This is one major reason that I think we should be wise in the choices we make. Funny films are a good choice when it comes to mood enhancement.

Thus, let me leave this blog wide open for your suggestions for films that make you feel good – that are good medicine for the soul. After all, giggles in, giggles out…

Lex

A Moodscope member