Due to the arctic freeze here in Fort Worth, my family has been forced to stay in doors. It has been awesome. We’ve had some real intense moments of laughter. My wife’s eyes have trouble producing tears. However, the other night we laughed so hard that tears were rolling down her cheeks. I stumbled upon this interview with Dorothy Custer (link above). She is a funny lady and knows how to laugh, particularly at herself. There is a lesson on laughter.

Few experiences in life can top laughing so hard that the tears and snot flow, you can’t catch your breath and the sides of your body hurt. Those moments when you want to stop laughing but you can’t. It’s like God keeps tickling you as the memory replays in your mind and the infection spreads to others. And their laughter make you laugh even more.

There is a big kid living inside my head. I enjoy being silly and a little crazy… Especially around the kids. My wife says I’m very intense. However, she’ll be the first to tell you that I can slip into the role of a 5yr old with ease. Why? I’ve found that I’m addicted to the sound of laughter, particularly of my wife and children. I must give an Honorable Mention to my mother-in-law who has an explosive laugh. It’s like a gun shot and will make you jump a little when she bursts into laughter.

Laughing to the point of tears is one of life’s richest rewards. We all want more of that.

Gifts from God:
A sense of humor and laughter may be two gifts from God that we take most for granted. Laughter is such a mystery and so unique. We need to enjoy moments of joyful uncontrollable laughter. Life can be deadly serious at times. But, humans need to laugh.

When people who live to 100 are ask what has kept them so young, most will include a good sense of humor and the ability to laugh in their responses.

When I grow up, I want to be laughing more than I do now. As my body fails in my old age, I want to laugh at myself. I learned a valuable lesson when I began losing my hair in my mid-twenties. I could either freak out about the prospect of being bald or laugh at the experience. I chose the latter.

If I live to be 100, I’ll have a lot to laugh at by then.

When is the last time you laughed so hard that you cried?