I can’t conceive of what life would be like without laughter.  I don’t want to either.  Life is too full of difficulties and challenges for any of us to be without this gift.  And yet, there are many people who do not seem to have it, or perhaps just haven’t learned to cultivate it.

Whether by circumstance or a specific experience that might have caused this void, most things that happen to us can be alleviated somewhat with a little lightheartedness.  Something in the human spirit craves this emotion.  It enriches our lives.

Many stand up comics have had a traumatic childhood and it has been the basis for their work.  By drawing humor out of bad, even horrible situations, we are surviving them well.

Surviving well is is a term I have found to be heartening when I have been faced with deep sorrow and tragedy.  Laughter, finding the funny memories and stories after a loved one dies, is part of the healing that can begin even in the first moments of of grief.  It is a saving grace.

I found many quotes on the topic of laughter.  These are a few that resonated with me.

“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” – Charlie Chaplin

“Laughter is an instant vacation.” – Milton Berle

“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.” – Victor Hugo

And then there is the phenomenon of just smiling.  Sarah Stevenson, in an article published by Psychology Today, writes, “For starters, smiling activates the release of neuropeptides that work toward fighting off stress. Neuropeptides are tiny molecules that allow neurons to communicate. They facilitate messaging to the whole body when we are happy, sad, angry, depressed, excited. The feel good neurotransmitters, dopamine, endorphins and serotonin are all released when a smile flashes across your face as well.”

I know what it does for me.  The blessings that accompany smiling and laughter are too numerous to mention.  Look it up on the internet.  I did.  I couldn’t possibly cite all the published articles about the medical and psychological benefits.  It has even been mentioned in several sources that smiling works wonders, even if you don’t mean it.  What an amazing concept!

If I live to be a hundred years or more, I intend to smile and laugh every day, no matter what happens.  It has worked for me so far, and I have promised myself to continue to do so, up to and including the day I die.  Enough said.