The following post is one of a series of posts appearing Monday through Friday on The Cancer Blog. This feature -- Today, I am grateful -- allows me to share with readers my appreciation for all the treasures in my life, both big and small. In my post-cancer world, I find It healing for my soul to be mindful of the good in my life. It is my pleasure to share my gratitude with you.

It's hot here in Florida -- steamy, sticky, humid, unbearable hot. The kind of hot that makes me sweat in an instant. The kind of hot that keeps me and my kids cooped up in the air-conditioned indoors for as long as we can stand it. The kind of hot that has me dreaming about cool, crisp, chilly days. I'd even take downright cold at the moment -- anything other than this treacherous heat.

It's only August, which in Florida means there's still a few months of blistering weather remaining. September will be hot, October could be hot -- last year's trick-or-treat extravaganza was pretty darn warm -- and then maybe in November, we'll get some relief. I don't prefer to wait this long for my favorite of all temperatures -- high 60s, low 70s -- but I'll make it. I might even enjoy the wait while I fantasize of wearing sweaters and jackets and long pants. There's something about anticipation that makes life exciting. The countdown is on.

Today, I am grateful for the promise of cooler temperatures.

Norman Cousins, in Anatomy of an Illness, is said to have started the mind-body medicine phenomenon that led to much of the research proving laughter is good medicine. From a biological standpoint, laughter releases feel good hormones. Feel good hormones can lead to physical healing. In addition, researchers proved that simply holding a pencil between your teeth forced the muscles in your face into the same position a smile would, and this was enough to release the same beneficial hormones. So far, I realize I am probably preaching to the choir.

There is more, and this is new. Loma Linda University in California researchers completed a study that shows just the anticipation of a humorous experience can trigger the activation of feel good hormones. According to Professor Lee Berk, people who are aware they are about to watch their favorite funny video had 27 percent more beta endorphins and 87 percent more human growth hormone, HGH, than people who are told they will be reading magazines for an hour. Beta endorphins provide natural pain relief. HGH is involved in growth, development and cell maintenance, and there is research to suggest it plays a role in maintaining a healthy immune system. Berk poetically calls the anticipation of laughter the biology of hope.