Laughter is Medicine

What makes you laugh?

I love laughing. I love making people laugh. I love hearing people laugh.

My kind of humor usually comes from slapstick comedy…I need to see the physical process of goofy antics to really start rolling.

Goofy animals, people falling, and things crashing into other things. As long as there are no injuries or mean-spirited intentions, you’ll hear me laughing at it.

I remember 9th grade English class one day. I was sitting next to the second floor window barely staying awake during the boring lesson. (I had Charlie Brown’s teacher.)

Suddenly a squirrel ran up the tree outside and out onto a limb right next to the window. I started chuckling because it was staring right at me with a big pine cone in its mouth. I motioned at my friend Bob and pointed at the squirrel. He began laughing, too. The proud squirrel just stared at us with his oversized pinecone, unaware what he was stirring in the classroom.

Eventually the teacher noticed us and snapped, “Boys, what is so funny?!” Of course, that was even funnier. I was rolling as I pointed out the window and said, “There’s a squirrel! And, he’s got a pine cone!” Bob and I burst out laughing, we were sent out into the hallway, and the rest of the students thought we had gone crazy.

I love making people laugh. I used to feign outlandish falling, slipping, and sliding in school and have people laughing, and that was like medicine to me. I can’t stand being around glum people, so if I can somehow reverse that, I’ll try my best to get a smile or chuckle.

I think my favorite laughter comes from hearing others laugh. I love to hear men give a high-grade, Irish belly laugh. My brother in law has one of the best I’ve ever heard. I’ve tried to replicate it, but my laugh usually sounds like I’m inhaling a bag of marshmallows.

My wife has a great laugh, it’s my favorite. When she laughs it brightens my day. So, I’m constantly trying to get her to laugh which can have the reverse effect of being annoying. (Find that balance, men!🤣)

God gave us laughter and for that I am grateful!