Know Your Man: Humor
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” ~ Victor Borge
“Good humor is one of the preservatives of our peace and tranquility” ~ Thomas Jefferson
“If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes you more open to my ideas.” ~ John Cleese
Have you noticed that couples who laugh together remain together and seem incredibly happy? How can we better dissolve an argument or a marital storm but with a joke and some hearty laughter?
It is really sad when you tell a joke or make a witty comment and the other person doesn’t laugh. I know some people who lack this ability to laugh on demand. My friend’s wife is one of them. His theory is that she cannot appreciate humor because she is too dumb; she lacks the ability to comprehend the subtleties of language and situations. I think I agree with his opinion and will go forward by making a generalization, adding that those without a sense of humor are also a bore.
Laugh is always the best medicine. It has been said over and over again that laughter is healing. Laughter improves blood circulation and digestion, decreases stress, increases self-confidence and, by strengthening the immune system is indeed very healing. Not bad for such a simple activity. According to popular belief, we use 43 muscles to frown and opposed to 17 to smile. Unless you want to exercise your ****** muscles, a smile saves physical energy while providing us with abundant cosmic ones. Your level of serotonin, the happy hormone, also soars.
If you need a crash course in the use of your laughter glands, the best triggers are comedies. There are some great movies, books, plays, etc. that will put you right in the mood. Try them out.
I particularly recommend silly but creative and intelligent comedies, such as the theatrical musicals “The Producers.” I swear, I have seen nothing funnier, or “Crazy for You;” the movies and everything else made by Mel Brooks; the operas “The Marriage of Figaro” and the “sequel” “The Barber of Seville,” the plays by Oscar Wilde, all books by Bill Bryson, all of Dave Barry’s writings, “I Love Lucy” reruns, etc. There are simply hundreds of things that will help you lighten up.
One little hiccup: don’t go on watching TV!
A Word of Advice
Ladies and Gents: Find a way to laugh everyday. Also, in the morning, look at each other and smile for one minute. This will be a great way to start your day. Also, exchange funny clean jokes with your email contacts. It is imperative to find time for one hearty laughter a day, at least. If you can laugh with each other, so much the better.