It is rightly said, ‘A good laugh is sunshine’. A person with a good sense of humour is always sought after whether at home, in office or at a party. He is also most welcome in a social get-together. A cheerful attitude and positive outlook towards life enlivens up every situation. The ancient healer recognises the value of laughter as a prescription for good health. Research has proved that a good, hearty laugh gives a healthy work-out to the diaphragm, the main muscle of respiration. Laughter stimulates the heart through the nervous system, increases heart rate and circulation, exercies the lungs and relaxes the muscles.
In medieval times, every royal court had a jester. Needless to say, this diffused the tense atmosphere created many a time due to reasons which vary from time to time. It helps people to relax. Shakespeare has said, “a light heart lives long”. The ability to laugh at ourselves is definitely a plus point. It is a sign of maturity. Laughter is a way of forgiving ourselves of shortcomings. If we can forgive ourselves, we can forgive others without difficulty. A good laugh helps us to get over stress and strain. If anyone insults us or uses harsh words against us, instead of getting angry with him and losing our temper, if we only cultivate the healthy habit of laughing over it, the other man is put to shame and you get over an ugly tension and get a relaxed mood. We see many magazines devoting a full column or even a page to jokes to entertain their readers.
A sour-faced person is usually shunned and a lack of sense of humour can block communication. Carlyle once said, ‘The man who cannot laugh is not only fit for treasons, strategems and spoils; but his whole life is already a treason and a strategem’. One who does not laugh and is not capable of making others laugh and one who is always having a serious look will not be very much liked in a company of friends and relatives. More so, such persons will also spoil the otherwise jovial atmosphere prevailing in an entertainment party where there is scope for only persons who are joyous themselves and can make others also happy and gay. Shakespeare has said, “I had rather have a fool make me merry than an experienced man making me sad”.
