Laughter clubs and humor and laughter therapy clinics have been opening around the country in an effort to teach people the benefit of laughter. Folks that laugh a lot are usually fun people to be around.

And remember that laughter begets laughter. Have you ever listened to a baby or child really laugh? You won't listen to it long before you'll be laughing with them. That's why Hollywood puts laugh tracks on the sitcoms you watch. The writing may not be funny enough to make you laugh, so they add laughter that will cause you to laugh also.

Years ago they use to have what we called tickle boxes. Little boxes with a recording of laughter inside, and when you turned it over, or upside down, the laughter would start, causing you to laugh. I guess that where the saying came from, "Who turned your tickle box over?"

Laughter is just a good thing. It's healthy, it makes you more productive, and your success rate goes up in whatever endeavor you are involved in.

And even when life gives you lemons, find a way to laugh about it. Life is great even though there are forever bumps in the road. Those bumps can be funny. Even in the family there should be reasons for humor.

Like in my family it is very clear that my wife did not marry Mr. Goodwrench. My wife bought me a hammer after we married and then asked me a few years later why I never used it. I said, "I can't figure out if it is standard or metric."

I guess I get that from my father. I remember as a boy my mother had an ironing table that was just too tall for her. So my father said he would just saw the legs off a little and make it her size. The trouble is he never could get them even. By the time he was through she was ironing on her knees.

So my wife knows I will never build us a house. But then again, I didn't marry Martha Stewart. My wife says life is too short to stuff a mushroom. I complained about the dark toast the other morning and she said, "Scrape it any shade you want."

I've learned to live with it. It's just a little embarrassing when we have company over and she stands up and says proudly, "Okay, who wants to carve the gravy?"

A strong sense of humor and need to laugh has gotten us through. And it will get you through, too. Just remember that life is like the turn of a wagon wheel. Sometimes you're in the sunshine and sometimes down in the mud. Laugh at it.

You can borrow trouble if you like, but the interest rates are high. Laugh about it.

People of all ages are sources of laughter. Aunt Myrtle and Uncle Roy were sitting watching television recently when a particular commercial came on. Roy said, "Whatever happened to our sexual relations?"

Myrtle thought about it a minute and said, "You know, I don't know. I don't even think we got a Christmas card from them this year."

About the Author

Nate Coker was a broadcast journalist one day and lost in Nashville, Tennessee the next. He is still wondering loose, but he is leaving trails everywhere: http://www.ticklemegood.com