You Love Them Because They're Funny!
For years I heard woman after woman say after obviously falling
in love, "He's so funny! I just love that about him."
Often after someone has lost a family member, they'll say "I'll
always remember her smile, the way she laughed, the little jokes
she would tell to lighten the mood."
Could it be we love people who have a great sense of humor? I've
always thought so. And now we have scientific proof of what many
of us long suspected. Humor is one of the things we enjoy most
about life and, frequently, the people we love are the ones who
make us smile.
Fortunately for those of us who probably aren't that funny,
humor is most often in the eye of the beholder. The guys at work
may not laugh at your wise cracks, but if SHE laughs, well
that's all that matters.
For a long time, nobody in the scientific world knew much about
humor. But during the past 20 years, more and more research has
been done. We know what parts of our brains deal with humor. We
also know when a baby starts to develop a sense of humor.
So don't hesitate. Let your funny bone show through!
* When you think something is funny, don't be afraid to let it
out. Just think first if your remark might be taken the wrong
way by those in earshot. Humor is great -- foot-in-mouth is less
great.
* Use humor to ease uncomfortable situations. When the mood
starts to get tense, an appropriate chuckle and humorous side
remark can get everyone back on track.
* If you're not naturally funny, read cartoons, joke books, the
laugh lines at the back of Reader's Digest, and pay attention to
how script writers set up funny situations on TV. You CAN learn
to be more humorous than you are. Pay attention to humor and
your sense of humor will develop.
Above all else, be someone who APPRECIATES humor. Try not to
make someone feel bad when you don't find their attempt at humor
to be all that funny. As long as the humor isn't in grossly poor
taste, give your humorist a smile. And be one who isn't afraid
to chortle and guffaw when someone really pushes your funny
button. A good laugh can be the best medicine you've had all
day.