Thursday, October 17, 2013

Day Seventeen- Letting Go: Don't Be So Serious




“Humor is the great thing, the saving thing.  The minute it crops up, all our irritation and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.”  ~Mark Twain

I believe that a good sense of humor is absolutely essential to enjoying life. Humor is what carries us through the tough times. It helps us put things in the proper perspective. Otherwise, we would buckle under the weight of all the pain and sorrow in our world. 

“Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on.” ~Bob Newhart

I was blessed with parents who were very funny and often had a humorous take on life. My father had a silly, corny sense of humor. He always had a joke to tell. My mother had a very dry sense of humor. Together they made quite the comedy team. My mom was usually the last to get the joke, which made it all the funnier. I have wonderful memories of them teasing one another and singing silly songs. There was a lot of laughter around the dinner table. Even in the midst of the toughest times, there was humor. 

"A smile is a curve that sets everything straight."  ~Phyllis Diller

My husband also grew up in a home filled with storytelling and laughter. Together we have carried these traditions into our own home. We sing lots of silly songs, quote funny movie lines, tell crazy stories, and encourage one another to not take ourselves too seriously along the way. We have so much fun as a family! Laughter has certainly helped keep us together. 

"If you are too busy to laugh, you are too busy."  ~ A Common Proverb

When life starts getting a little too serious, look for ways to lighten up. Watch a crazy sitcom, see a funny movie, or call someone who you know can make you laugh. I really like puns and corny jokes, so whenever I hear one, I will text it to my kids. “What did the DNA say to the other DNA? Do these genes make me look fat?”  “How do you fix a broken pumpkin? With a pumpkin patch!” They’re silly, I know, but they crack me up! 

“Laughter is an instant vacation.” ~Milton Berle

Let go of that serious expression, allow yourself to smile, and put a little laughter in your day!

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
 ~Proverbs 17:22

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