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This I Believe: Laugh A Little

John McMillan
/
NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS
Olivia Moore - Riverton High School

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” I absolutely love this quote by Charles Dickens because of the truth it holds. Laughter is so important to life and should be something you do every single day. 

My mom always says that laughter can get you through some of the hardest times in your life and I believe this wholeheartedly. I have learned through my own experiences and the experiences of my friends that laughter can be extremely powerful.

Laughter can change a situation from feeling serious and uncomfortable to light and happy. My freshmen year I took a computer class. When I walked into the class on the first day, I was very shocked to discover that this class was all seniors...and me. I went to sit down and completely missed the chair, falling flat on my back. I was completely humiliated and everyone was laughing. I could have sat back up in my chair and hid my face for the rest of the year but instead I stood up and started busting up laughing along with everyone else. Because I laughed, the seniors were given a perception of me that I am easy going rather than just a scared, embarrassed freshman. I actually became good friends with many of them. My laughing at myself made a situation that felt very big, suddenly become very small.

Laughter can be a form of comfort. When something tragic happens such as the loss of a loved one, sometimes the best thing you can do for comfort is to spend quality time with others that are in pain telling stories and sharing memories from the life of the person who passed away. Sharing that laughter and celebrating that life can be the most comforting thing for those in mourning.

Laughter can also be a key tool in creating friendship. Personally, my favorite people to be around make me crack up laughing. When someone can bring out that feeling of effortless happiness in you, you are drawn more towards that person. Have you ever been surrounded by friends and you all get to laughing about something and eventually you are all laughing so hard that your abs are hurting, your cheeks are sore, and your eyes begin to water? That is effortless happiness and it creates a bond that is stronger than any other bond you can make. I can promise you, friendships filled with laughter will last longer than any other friendships.

“All that I’m after is a life full of laughter.” I love this line from Chris Daughtrey’s song “Life After You” because it is what I live for and it is what I believe everyone should live for. Life is too short so have fun, and take time every single day to laugh out loud. Laughter is powerful enough that the world would be a much happier place if we could all only learn to laugh a little more; this I believe.  

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