“Find Something to Laugh About Every Day”

April 5, 2011

Today’s Bit of Advice….

“Find Something to Laugh About Every Day”

It’s easy to take life too seriously - especially in this age of economic hardship, world chaos, and moral dishevelment.   Television and radio news fill the mind with all kind of anxiety and disturbance.  I am the type of person who falls into “the world is coming to an end” mindset all too easily.

But I know the importance of finding something to laugh about every day as a way to balance all that negative stuff.  The last 48 hours have given me quite a collection of things to laugh about.  Thought I’d share a few with you…..

It all started in the car on the way home from church on Sunday.  Middle kid was in the back seat and we were talking about the new priest we met that morning.  I said, “Wasn’t he very kind?  And very humorous?”  Without missing a beat she replied, “There’s no humor in tomatoes.”  What??  Then she adds, “And there’s nothing funny about corn.”  I see.  She just sat there with a serious face and watched me for reaction.  Which just made the whole thing even funnier.  I started laughing and repeating her statements (and have kept that up for two straight days).  “There’s no humor in tomatoes” is the new catch phrase in our house.  Turns out these quotes were from a story called “Serious Farm” by Tim Egan.  She read it in school and had been waiting for a chance to use some of the book’s humor.  I’m thinking of reading it myself!

Then, yesterday, Last kid spent the day with Grandma because she had a fever and couldn’t attend school.  Fortunately for her, she felt very good despite the temp and she was able to have a fun day.  When Grandma dropped her off to me at the end of the school day she said, “I learned all about the cousins in Kentucky today.  And the ones in Texas.  Like Jennifer who is 13.”  Last kid just sat there looking around with a smile on her face.  Because we don’t have any relatives in Kentucky or Texas, but she sure came up with a pretty complete story.  I often wonder how many stories like this she has told at school and what false information they know about us there.

I found late-night humor yesterday in the Facebook post of another relative.  The one that said “Ice, Ice, Baby”.  I started to sing the song (you probably are now too).  She listens to music of the ‘80s so I figured she was just having a moment  - but why would anyone choose that song to have an ‘80s moment?  Only later, upon seeing others comments to her post, did I realize that she was using humor to cover her pain.  The “Ice” had nothing to do with Vanilla Ice but with the frozen water she was holding to her freshly sprained ankle.  She could have gone on FB, whined a bit, and gotten lots of sympathy from friends.  But, in her typical fashion, she found some humor to throw around and make the pain a little easier to bear.

A few more laughs today, like the comment I heard when the kids got home from school.  One of my children, who shall remain nameless, took off his sneakers and said “Watch out, my shoes stink and I know how to use them!”  Try not to giggle at that one. 

And my husband, who has been sick for a week and a half, gave me a laugh too.  He went to the doctor last week (finally) and was given a script for an antibiotic but was encouraged to wait two days before having it filled.  If he started to feel better in that time, the antibiotic would be unnecessary.  So he waited five days and realized he still was not better.  He took the script to the pharmacy today, brought home his antibiotic, set it on the counter, and pouted.   Pouted!  I asked him what the problem was and he said “I wanted to make the Dr. proud and get better without filling the prescription.  I feel like I let him down.”  Perfect example of how I can find laughter in my house even when people aren’t trying to be funny.  J

But the funniest thing of all happened in the car this afternoon.  I left the girls together in the car for five minutes while I went in the school to pick up the First kid from art club.  They each had a book to read – there was no need for any boredom.  When I got back to the car, Middle kid was sitting in the back with the biggest grin on her face.   She had found a huge plastic bag in the back of the car and put it on her body like a dress.  The handles were tied together in front of her like a bow.  Of course I had to ask what she was doing.   And, of course, I never would have been able to guess on my own.  She smiled broadly and stated “I’m a package all ready to be shipped and handled!”

Yup.  Exactly what I expected to hear.  LOL

You never know when you will find some laughter in your life.  Search for it and enjoy it!

Hope you enjoyed the read.