What’s it about good humour and a happy, smiling face that’s so attractive that many rate it as one of the important traits in a prospective life-partner or an irresistible quality in a friend, as a constant source of happiness & amusement in life’s journey. ‘He’s warm and so funny’ is a compliment to one who’s a change from ‘I’m the Best’ haughty attitude some people carry. The popular guys in early school were generally labeled as ‘Motu’, ‘Chotu’, ‘Budda’- for in camaraderie, no one knew of ‘body-shaming’. These chaps could joke at themselves, rag boring teachers and spread mirth all around.
That’s because the fascination with ‘hasna-hasana’ if we recall, started with a toddler’s chuckles and inscrutable smiles that win the hearts of a doting observers. As kids, we’d laugh hundreds of times a day watching Tom & Jerry cartoons & Laurel and Hardy and anything remotely funny including the antics of pet doggies. And we all loved adventure stories of kings, fairies and giants but only with happy endings ! In today’s age, all these may have found place in mobiles that little kids can operate.
Sadly, as we progress, first as young college students carrying expectations of excellence from society and desperately fighting with millions for a good place for further studies and then later as working adults, life tends to be serious and challenging what with the job demands, filial responsibilities & aspirations of making it big, that makes our laughter become infrequent. That’s why you have stand-up comics, comedy shows, getaways and a rare go-to film to induce some amusing moments in busy lives of the millennial. Senior citizens are better off with ‘laughter clubs’ and more time on hand !
Ask anyone ‘what makes you laugh’ and they’ll share the latest hilarious forward, meme or cartoon received from one of their W’App groups that’s gone viral. The ‘laughter’ job is now assigned to the social media netizens and centre around the outpourings of our outspoken politicians in the form of barbs, jibes and diatribes against the others. Even one prime time News Channel understands our agony of and has introduced a section ‘Happy Story of the Day’ to enliven spirits, depressed after watching the news !
We all including the best doctors know that ‘laughter is the best medicine’. It’s power is to draw people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. It strengthens immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. The question is ‘Laugh about what ?’
For that the answer is we need to develop more humor in our lives which looks at the funny (and positive side) of things even when they aren’t going your way. Surely, the best place to start is from home and with the bitter half – for it also helps release anger and forgive (or be forgiven) sooner !
Working on Living 