Is Laughter really the best medicine?
They say laughter is the best medicine. My question is for what? Let’s consider a couple of possibilities.
- You have broken 205 of the bones in your body due to a horrendous gator golf accident. No common sense would say get that boy to a doctor. No need, right? Just laugh it off. After all, you still have one good bone, don’t you? Isn’t that funny in an ironic way? Besides, think of all the money you’ll be saving by not visiting your favorite physician. Or maybe you are waxing altruistic and saving you beloved insurance company a fat wad of cash. Now that’s funny.
- You have lapsed into a near comatose depression after your entire family was gunned down by a preteen who had seen The Matrix one too many times. Because of your initial shock and denial, you have lost your job at the firm. You have neglected bills and, well, just about everything and everyone. Not a problem. All you need, my friend, is a good, hearty chuckle. Did you know that laughing burns calories? Think of that the next time you want to delve into that gargantuan box of ho ho’s. You should by no means seek professional help of any kind. Antidepressants and psychotherapy have no use whatsoever, nor do counseling or group therapy. Turn that frown upside down, amigo! For one thing, look at how worthless and meaningless your existence is. Your every breath is just another inhalation of agony. You have to admit, it is pretty dad gum humorous. Sigh.
Sometimes, when I feel like throwing a trite anecdote or pithy little saying toward a person in pain, I think of how much the collision would hurt. And then I do it anyway, and we both laugh.
