There is nothing better to make you feel good than to have a good laugh. At least that is true for me. I just finished reading a few chapters of Garrison Keillor's recent book "The Lake Wobegon Virus". This is another diversion for me after a great day on the slopes. A way to mellow out before bedtime.
I find Keillor particularly funny both in his oral stories and in his prose. Tonight I broke out into giggles as I read some of his most outrageous descriptions of his characters both in type and behavior. It felt so good I am driven to write about it.
In the broader sense it has me thinking about what are other things that make me laugh? And also why are we often so individually different about the things than inspire our laughter? My wife doesn't find Keillor funny. Maybe it is because she is a writer of a different genre. We do have one thing in common about our laughter. Our youngest grandson tickles us to pieces. His laughter just lights us up.
I am guessing that laughter is inspired by the unexpected! The little twists of verbiage, prose or physical behavior of others can simulate our laughter response. And I have read about seminars that teach people to laugh through forced laughter exercises. When I don't get my laughter kicks from the unexpected it might be a good idea to laugh anyway.
In closure on a skiing note a day on the slopes may not make me laugh out loud but surely on a gloriously sunny day with new fallen snow there is will be a huge smile on my face.