There are many reasons why we laugh and smile, and to be honest, we don’t laugh enough (the suggested quota is 15 laughs per day for optimal health). To complicate things, there are many different kinds of humor, including parody, satire, double entrendres, black humor, taboo humor, puns, sarcasm and irony. Two people can laugh at the same joke for entirely different reasons. Irony is described as the joining of two ideas or concepts that, when paired up, make us either scratch our heads or chuckle. Example: Years a go, legendary silent film actor Charlie Chaplin entered a Charlie Chaplin look-a-like contest. He got third place! On the surface, it may seem like there is not much to laugh at these days, but there is always irony (often in the headlines), and life is filled with plenty of it. Often times it’s the ironic humor that is hard to explain to others (some people call these kinds of laughs, “geographic jokes,” calling to mind the expression, you had to be there.”)
Stress Tip for the Day:
Take time to be part of your own geographic jokes. Be there… for your sense of humor. To do this you have to step outside yourself and look around at the world you live in. Look for incongruencies. Then smile. Work your funny bone. The word humor means moisture of fluid. It’s a great reminder to go with the flow. So find something ironic to laugh at today.
Link or Books Worth Noting:
Just back from vacation I didn’t have time to check out a good link, but this was waiting for me in an email. Enjoy! (and apologies up front to the people from Nashville).
These are Nashville , TN.’s REAL 911 Calls!
Dispatcher : 9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller: I heard what sounded like gunshots coming from the brown house on the corner.
Dispatcher: Do you have an address?
Caller: No, I have on a blouse and slacks, why?
Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is the nature of your emergency?
Caller: I’m trying to reach nine eleven but my phone doesn’t have an eleven on it.
Dispatcher: This is nine eleven.
Caller: I thought you just said it was nine-one-one
Dispatcher: Yes, ma’am nine-one-one and nine-eleven are the same thing.
Caller: Honey, I may be old, but I’m not stupid.
Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What’s the nature of your emergency?
Caller: My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart
Dispatcher: Is this her first child?
Caller: No, you idiot! This is her husband!
Dispatcher: 9-1-1
Caller: Yeah, I’m having trouble breathing. I’m all out of breath.
Darn….I think I’m going to pass out.
Dispatcher: Sir, where are you calling from?
Caller: I’m at a pay phone. North and Foster.
Dispatcher: Sir, an ambulance is on the way. Are you an asthmatic?
Caller: No
Dispatcher: What were you doing before you started having trouble breathing?
Caller: Running from the Police.
Photo for the Day:
I found this photo in a card store. This is a great example of irony. Enjoy
Quote for the Day:
“Be different, like everybody else!” —anonymous graffiti
Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net
© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.
