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The Humor Bone...




Is there really one in our body?

Or, maybe it's just a wacky, weird word play on the actual "humerus" bone. Who says Science and Literature don't mix, right?

Be that as it may, having the ability to laugh with (note, not "at") others is a great habit to groom, polish and whatever else you do for general sanity check.

Laughing apparently releases endomorphins or "feel-good" chemicals in our body- that's what researchers say, not me. So, anything from clowns, funny shows, even if a pathetic physical tickle is what it takes to get a smile, would be fine.

Now, bear with me on this laziest one in the history of analogies. Imagine you're at the bottom of a hill.

Ready, set, this would your starting position.

Moving up, have you noticed how it's so easy to laugh at external things, but not at ourselves? But, if we do want to get there, we got to travel a long way to taking ourselves a little less serious than others do.

Really... our mothers did tell us we're not the "only" center of the universe. I'm adding "only", because when my daughter heard me saying this she politely pointed out that scientifically, the universe is unbounded and thus every point within it has an equal claim to being the exact center. So technically, she gets to be the center, just like everyone else.

Don't you hate it when your wisdom is constantly corrected by 10 yr olds?

Sigh, guess that's we call progress.

Back to the topic, if you want to learn to take some self-deprecating humor or even make one, egos should always be as flat as a freshly-mowed lawn, yet your confidence should be soaring up in the sky.

I know, it's tough but that's the golden rule, the mantra.

And, what do you do if you're hyper-sensitive and that's barring from taking a wisecrack on yourself?

Yes, it is hard when a joke exposes your worst area. But, here's the tip. The more you avoid it, the higher your "cringe" meter. Catch-22 at work.

Anyway, if you do get to this level, the good news is that you're half-way up the hill.

Here's the clincher though. The ultimate in the humor hierarchy.

 If you can make others laugh or smile, you've reached the acme. Of the mountain, remember?

And, the good news is that you don't have to be a professional comedian to do it. All of us have the potential to get loose, unleash and unlock those nerves, crack that wit.

It kind of helps us, and those around us too. So, go ahead and safely try this at home.
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