“While the laughter of joy is in full harmony with our deeper life, the laughter of amusement should be kept apart from it. The danger is too great of thus learning to look at solemn things in a spirit of mockery, and to seek in them opportunities for exercising wit.” Lewis Carroll

Have you noticed how serious everyone is lately? Even those in the service industry leave a lot to be desired. Are we just going through the motions of living because we don’t want to offend anyone? If we have come to that point, I’m really glad that I don’t have too many more years left.

Laughter has been a huge part of my life. My mother was the queen of it. She laughed at everything – even when it wasn’t funny. Some folks would say that’s weird, but I truly believe my mom knew the secret to success and it had something to do with humor.  Her laughter was infectious as well.  When she’d laugh everyone around her did as well.

There’s nothing like a kid running around with his underwear on his head, or for that matter an adult doing the same. Children have a real knack for humor, even when they don’t intend to be funny. Usually the funniest things happen when you least expect them.

Laughter is one of the most spontaneous emotions we have. You can’t control it. I have a friend who I would count on to attend my plays, because she’d laugh at all the right spots, because she genuinely thought it was funny.  I love those who aren’t afraid to let it rip when it comes to laughing.

We used to watch clowns squirting seltzer bottles or getting a pie in the face, and roar with laughter. A guy would slip and fall on a banana peel and everyone thought it hilarious. I guess what we laugh at today isn’t as funny as it used to be, or maybe we’ve lost the ability to laugh at ourselves and choose to enjoy the failings of others.

God didn’t create humanity to live in despair and sadness. Think of the fun things He made for us to laugh at. Take the giraffe – or monkeys – or me. But I digress.
When we laugh, we release endorphins which make us feel good. I think it’s time for a good old fashioned belly laugh! How about you?