Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Value of laughter #2

Laughter increases our ability to cope.  We all experience life events such as flat tires, traffic jams and screwed-up schedules.  How do we react?  Do we take it seriously and stress out?  Do we see the humor in the situation and laugh?  Author Allen Klein says “adding humor to our difficult times can be one of the wisest things we can do to help us cope with them, stop worrying about them, and get on with our life.”  (Klein, A, The Healing Power of Humor, pg 10)

Humor gives us perspective.  Author Allen Klein reminds us of the classic letter home by a college student who knows her parents won’t be happy with her grades.  The girl talks about all the tragedies that have befallen her:  the dorm burned down, she’s now out of the hospital. She’s going to have their first grandchild.  Then the postscript says, she’s not pregnant, there was no hospital stay or dorm fire.  She got one D and one C and she hopes they will keep it in perspective.

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