HUMOR
Humor is important for your physical and mental health. And, the subsequent laughter is powerful. Regardless of what you choose to do in life, if you add humor to the equation it tends to leave a positive impression. I remember when I was a police officer on the New York City police department, my partner and I received a call to respond to a brownstone apartment, in the area we were patrolling, of a a suspicious odor. I know from experience that a suspicious odor call, in an apartment building, coupled with the fact that the tenant has not been seen in awhile is indicative of a dead decomposing person. It did not take long for us to confirm that predicament. Part of the police department's procedure with this type of call was to take an inventory of valuables and to take possession of them for safe keeping for the next of kin. Needless to say this is not a pleasant assignment for a police officer. At least not for me. It is somber and serious. By this time several other officers arrived, a detective to clear the scene to confirm whether or not it was a suspicious or a natural death and, a supervisor. Everyone present had a responsibility. My partner and I, as aforementioned, were searching for valuables. Suddenly I hear my partner yell, "I found the murder weapon!" All present were startled by this discovery so we went to his location. He was standing by a night table in the deceased's bedroom shaking a rubber dildo that he discovered in the course of his search. I started laughing uncontrollably. The supervisor also found his behavior humorous. Now, the detective, not so. He was not impressed. The reason I mention the above experience is to inform you that in that stressful environment, humor softened up the stress to allow us to do our job. I can adamantly tell you that if there were members of the deceased present or members of the public, my partner would not have responded the way he did. My partner was not trying to be disrespectful. He was using a defense mechanism in humor to soften things up. I bet you all present, including the stiff detective, appreciated the ice breaker. I know I did. Humor, has a strong and memorable presence. Obviously you do not want to be disrespectful but it has many benefits. It has been known to trigger healthy physical and mental changes in the immune system. It protects you from the damaging effects of stress and negativity. I find that humor keeps me alert and happier as I move through life. And the best part of humor is that it is free. We can learn so much from children. Children seem to laugh most of the time. They always seem happier. But as we grow older, it seems that we laugh less. It doesn't have to be that way. I am told at times that I should grow up when I use humor in stressful situations. As if some are jealous that I prefer laughter over stress. I do not remember a requirement that in adulthood, I am supposed to laugh less. But, quite frankly, I choose the way I live my life and someone else's opinion of me means nothing to me.
Humor and the subsequent laughter, can trigger many benefits for the physical body and your mental health. Benefits from boosting your immune system to hearth health, to living a long healthy life. So there you have it, you can live an angry, negative stressful life or you can choose a happy, positive energized, relaxed life. The choice is yours alone. I leave you with the following poem hoping that it will bring you laughter, titled, "Smart Phone-Dumb User."
"My new phone is "smart," I guess that I'm not. Amazing what all this here smart phone has got. TV and weather and internet too. There's just no limits of what it can do. Check my blood pressure and my temperature. Without even probing all my apertures. I now know the time in Paris or Greece. I can track the migration of thousands of geese. Or find Chinese food, it's here on this map. Oops, my finger just slipped, now where was that at? A camera, a camera! Now I can take shots. Of everyone I know. Push this here button and take me a selfie. If it had a nose would this thing take a smellfie? Email to pester with a video to shoot. Maps to drive round with, wow that's a hoot! A compass to guide me home if I'm lost. Thank god work paid for this thing, what it costs! The thing that it does would amaze Mr. Bell. What he would have thought of it no one can tell. But, one question's still in my middle aged craw. Despite all the gizmos that strike me with awe, they're fun and they're useful and techy and all. But, how do I just simply make a phone call?"
Rick W. Cotton
Just a thought
Humor and the subsequent laughter, can trigger many benefits for the physical body and your mental health. Benefits from boosting your immune system to hearth health, to living a long healthy life. So there you have it, you can live an angry, negative stressful life or you can choose a happy, positive energized, relaxed life. The choice is yours alone. I leave you with the following poem hoping that it will bring you laughter, titled, "Smart Phone-Dumb User."
"My new phone is "smart," I guess that I'm not. Amazing what all this here smart phone has got. TV and weather and internet too. There's just no limits of what it can do. Check my blood pressure and my temperature. Without even probing all my apertures. I now know the time in Paris or Greece. I can track the migration of thousands of geese. Or find Chinese food, it's here on this map. Oops, my finger just slipped, now where was that at? A camera, a camera! Now I can take shots. Of everyone I know. Push this here button and take me a selfie. If it had a nose would this thing take a smellfie? Email to pester with a video to shoot. Maps to drive round with, wow that's a hoot! A compass to guide me home if I'm lost. Thank god work paid for this thing, what it costs! The thing that it does would amaze Mr. Bell. What he would have thought of it no one can tell. But, one question's still in my middle aged craw. Despite all the gizmos that strike me with awe, they're fun and they're useful and techy and all. But, how do I just simply make a phone call?"
Rick W. Cotton
Just a thought