How many times have you heard “If I don’t laugh I’ll cry”? Shared again just this morning, it hit me that I hadn’t had a good belly laugh in a few days. You know the ones…your side hurts, a snort might sneak out, and you laugh again later just thinking about it.
Like my faith~deeply rooted~humor has provided soft landings for hard falls. I’m native to a giggling homeland. My youngest son once said “I love how our family can laugh-even during hard times.” That hit me right between my heart chambers.
It was 1988~My wombmate (a.k.a. twin) and I were singing for the Chamber Choir of Southwest Missouri State University. Humor did not have a place at any practice. Dr. Guy Webb, choir director, was an amazing talent. He was demanding and picky~and not what I would describe as “humorous” by a long-shot. And you had better not “scoop”. To “scoop” meant you would start at a note and slide up to the note you SHOULD be singing. Simultaneously, the two of us scooped (very loudly) to a….wrong note. “Oops-a-daisy!” Things spiraled quickly. “Do not look at me!” I thought to myself. And we did it. We made eye contact with one another. NO, it wasn’t with Dr. Webb (had it been things probably would’ve remained dignified). Instead, our twin eyes caught one another and it began. IT ALWAYS begins with just a tiny giggle. And when the shoulders start to dance, it’s never a quiet outcome. Needless to say the practice had a small intermission (I’m sure other singers might agree it was needed).
Perhaps I could write a memoir titled “Times I laughed when I shouldn’t have laughed and most people would not laugh, but the weird ones like me would get it.” (WAYYYY TOOOO LOONNNGGG of a title anyway).
You see, I had to (have to) laugh. In every situation, whether sad, frustrating, horrific, unbelievable, or even catastrophic, there lies deep in my soul a pint-sized risible region. And also, residing there, is the ability to understand irony. This developed at a very young age. As a child (and now) I remember learning to understand others. And humor played a huge role.
Without diving into brain research on child development, my experiences as an educator guided me to help students develop imaginations and spot incongruities. I understood students who “got” the joke~and also those who didn’t. We all process different. Brains process humor differently. Disney and Pixar movies are loaded with humor that we, as adults, understand (and some young ones do too). It’s a joy to watch little people develop their humor.
“Having a humorous outlook on life is a good coping strategy. It helps people better manage stress and adversity. More negative humour styles, such as sarcasm, ridicule, and self-defeating humour, do not offer the same benefits. Instead, they tend to alienate people and are more associated with depressed mood and aggression….And neurobiology shows that laughter can lead to brain changes, which may explain the link between humour and intelligence.
Sadly, there are some that can’t laugh. Maybe due to a physical or biological reason. Or because they are in despair and find no reason to smile or even laugh. I’ve been there. I understand.
There’s nothing funny about the turmoil I see in our world. It doesn’t “tickle” me to witness loss of laughter in some, illness in others, hate spewing from a few or a pew, and people tearing one another down because of their own inability to love others with an open mind and no judgement. To let go of the perceived knowledge that EVERY person should think like YOU, be like YOU, dress like YOU, love like YOU, believe like YOU, walk like YOU, talk like YOU, and laugh like YOU.
There are many situations in my life that have brought tears. And when I have laughed so hard I cry,….well, those are the tears I hope we can ALL shed as much as possible. Try to make someone smile. In this complicated, and sometimes dark times, I pray you find a reason~any reason, to laugh. In contrast to my “brittle” bones, requiring much faith and attention, my funny bone seems to be more resistant to fracture. And my backbone stays strong too. Humor me…even if I’m not funny, I’ll still choose happy.
Have faith💚
Just for giggles…
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You have a great funny bone that I love to see giggling. Love always J. 🤪
Thank you. 💚
LOL!!
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There’s some situations that you just have to laugh through or you’ll go insane! 😁
So true!
Thank you for the smiles and laughs! One can never have too much of either.
You’re welcome, Rebecca! 😊
I smiled as I read this. Enjoyed reading your perspective that everyone processes differently. There is nothing wrong with using humour or not using to process something.
I have been known to laugh at the oddest of times.
Thank you💚😊🤭 I have many other times I laughed when I shouldn’t have 😊~or probably should’ve laughed when I didn’t 🤦🏼♀️😬
My first chuckle of the day!!! I am reminded of a movie a friend and I went to see, we were probably teenagers. It was a sad movie. We cried, sobbed in fact until the neanderthal behind us told us to shut up. We looked at each other and burst into hysterical laughter! Best laugh ever! I still smile when I remember it.
You just made me burst into laughter thinking about you two laughing. Now that’s what I’m talking about it!! 😂💚🦋
Teehee…then..LOLOL! I remember that moment!! I love your take on humor and how about the movie “Red Eye”?? I love that God gave us that for a reason. I’m telling ya, it is more healing than we know. Although, I wish mine didnt go so dark (a funeral moment laugh here…), it is there nonetheless. “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion…” Truvy. Love you❤❤👭
Oh the movies. No wonder our boys didn’t want to sit with us. 🤦🏼♀️😬You have me laughing always….even through tears❤️💚💕 I love you too 👭
Thanks for the laugh…
Thank you, Eliza 💚
What a brilliant post! Thank you for writing such a good piece on humor and its role in life. Especially in these challenging weeks, we need to use all of our weapons, and humor is a great one.
Lindifique
Thank you so much! 💚
Thank you for making me laugh today! I love to laugh even at the stupidest things! 😂🤣
You’re welcome! What would we do without laughter? 💚😂💕🙏🏻
Thanks for the laughs, it is good medicine!
It is indeed! Thank you for reading it! 💚
It’s SO good to have a friend like you to laugh with!🤣❤️
💚😜Amen!
LOL!👍
🦋🤗
Thanks for sharing your look at a humorous story. Sometimes humor, done in an innocent way, helps to open the door to bigger and better things. I feel much better knowing the castaways on Gilligan’s Island discovered alternatives for toilet paper.
You made me giggle again 🤭 thank YOU!
Hugs to you for the giggles!! And yes indeed, laughter is the spoon-full-of-medicine we all need…especially in times such as these. 💕
🤗💚
Yes! To paraphrase Spock, “Laugh long and prosper!
Absolutely! 😂😊
Lovely post! Thank you for the smiles! Hv a great day☺️
Follow @everythingtips for tips and recommendations if interested☺️It would mean a lot to me🥺🤍
Thank you! Yes, I’ll check out your site and be happy to support! 💚
thank you very much!🤍🤍
You’re so very welcome 💚
I’m more annoyingly silly lol!
Well that’s just awesome! Lol!
It is for particular people… I’m a pretty different cup of coffee lol!!
Sip sip hooray! ☕️ that’s the way to be!
Lol!! 👍🙌
👍🏻😁
You’re going to cause me to be silly lol!
Superty duperty! Lol
Lol!! Superty duperty? That’s supercalafragilisticexpealadocious!! 😆😂🤣
Shut the front door!!! LOL
😂🤣😂😅😂🤣
K.L. You’re awesome! Never change!
Ditto! 😊
I can’t… I’ve tried many times… it’s hopeless lol!!!
😁😆
Well I hope I have achieved the goal of your post!
I won’t keep bothering you! It’s been fun!
You absolutely nailed it!! It’s been fun indeed! 😊