Next Practices

Some people are funnier than others. There are folks who can remember joke after joke while others would get a dear-in-the-headlights look on their face if they were required to tell a joke. There is the kind of humor you expect from those who seem to be the life of the party, and the quite different humor that comes as a surprise from one normally quiet.

Regardless of the source or circumstance, most of us enjoy a little humor in our days. I read earlier today that the average child smiles more than 200 times a day while the average adult barely makes double digits in the daily frequency. We can do better.

Think of some of the things humor can do:

• break the ice when you’re getting to know someone
• break the tension in a room of people or between you and someone else
• help build rapport with others
• take our mind off our worries temporarily
• bring joy to those who need it
• help heal our bodies from the toll of stress
• prepare people to hear a more serious message

Those who are good at humor tend to know it and use it to their own advantage and that of others. Nothing wrong with that. You’ve probably run into folks, though, who think they are funny but leave you saying to yourself “Will he/she ever stop?” Beware those who laugh a lot at their own jokes. They are usually laughing more than others in the room and ought to notice that fact.

I don’t know if being funny is a gift or not, but I think that if you really struggle with being humorous, you probably ought to not attempt it too much. Just enjoy the humor of others. Forced attempts are painful to the hearers.

I love working with people who have a good sense of humor. The quick comments and wit add a smile and a laugh, build relationships, make the day enjoyable and make the day pass quickly.

If you’re good at humor, use it. The world needs more of it. If you aren’t, then enjoy watching and hearing others.

Leap year lesson #65 is A little humor goes a long way.