<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s nothing like a gleam of humor to reassure you that a fellow human being is ticking inside a strange face\u201d (Eva Hoffman).<\/p>\n
LIGHTHEARTEDNESS AND LAUGHTER ARE PRETTY GOOD SIGNS THAT THERE IS SOME LIFE IN US. Our exteriors may be buttoned-up and businesslike, but a little humor cracks the fa\u00e7ade and lets it be known that there\u2019s a little impish vitality in there after all.<\/p>\n
\u201cHumor is the sunshine of the mind\u201d (Edward Bulwer-Lytton). In the physical world, of course, sunshine is not the only kind of weather that we need, but isn\u2019t it wonderful when we happen to have the benefit of it? Similarly, in the emotional world, we take a special delight in the \u201csunshine of the mind.\u201d Isn\u2019t it pleasing when humor breaks through the clouds of a \u201crainy\u201d set of circumstances? Isn\u2019t it agreeable when something funny is said, when something hilarious happens, or when something comical catches us by surprise?<\/p>\n
It would be hard to overestimate the value of the gift we give when we show others \u201ca gleam of humor.\u201d For most people, life can be a bit difficult, and without a dash of funniness once in a while, it can be almost impossible. So it doesn\u2019t matter who the folks are who have to deal with us regularly; they would enjoy, if not some laughter, at least a little pleasantness coming from our side of the relationship.<\/p>\n
It might be a mistake, however, to suddenly decide that we\u2019re going to start being \u201chumorous.\u201d If that hasn\u2019t been our habit in the past, it might be more beneficial simply to start being more observant<\/em> of the things that happen around us that are comical. Genuine humor can rarely be planned or programmed. As Erma Bombeck said, \u201cHumor is a spontaneous, wonderful bit of an outburst that just comes. It\u2019s unbridled, it\u2019s unplanned, it\u2019s full of surprises.\u201d<\/p>\n Ordinary life contains all the humorous sunshine that any of us needs, if only we have eyes and ears to receive it. Indeed, professional humorists get their best material by just watching and listening as the \u201cmad, mad, mad, mad world\u201d goes by. And I\u2019m guessing, if something funny didn\u2019t happen to you today, you just weren\u2019t paying attention.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is one word in America that says it all, and that one word is, \u2018You never know’\u201d (Joaqu\u00edn And\u00fajar).<\/p>\n Gary Henry \u2013 WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com<\/p>\n