I know this may sound trivial, but have you ever considered laughter and its effects? Do you remember the last time you had a real, hearty, long lasting, body involved laugh? This is the kind of a laugh that is a total experience – not a smile, not a slight chuckle – a laugh.
Sooo… what makes you laugh? What is it that tickles your funny bone? Laughter really is a health producing activity. The reason is that laughter involves all of you – mind and muscle. When you laugh it also affects those around you. Have you ever seen just one person in a group laughing and no one else affected? Of course not. Laughter is contagious. Laughter makes you feel good and it makes those around you feel good.
But what makes us laugh? Some of the same things make all of us laugh and some ‘types’ of humor affect us differently. Example: I don’t like the type of humor that makes fun of someone else. This means that I love the Britcom “As Time Goes By” but I’ve never really appreciated “Keeping Up Appearances”. I also don’t like humor that is physically hurtful – like that portrayed by the 3 Stooges. I know they are an institution, I just don’t like that form of humor.
Some people gasp with laughter at a good pun, others groan. Some people like slapstick others find it boring. Cary Grant’s deft portrayals that sometimes are displayed through only an expression are hysterical to some and a yawn to others. The ‘types’ of humor seem endless. The question is – do you know what makes you laugh?
Laughter can take the sting out of disappointment. Laughter can be a shared experience with others. Laughter can provide a break from what is happening and thus provide a moment to reconsider. And the list of the benefits of laughter is endless. Scripture tells us that,”… a merry heart doeth good like a medicine…” It does.
