In any situation that
requires gathering your inner strength, reaching down deep for that last shred
of willpower, or just making the effort to take the next step, laughter can
relieve the stress of the situation.
When adding cancer to
that regimen, it is a requirement.
Cancer can wipe away
a happy thought in a second and bring a crowd of people to tears. This is not
conducive to winning friends and being the life of the party.
Most smiles require
very little thought, and it’s not difficult to find a reason to smile.
One way to make
yourself smile is to watch the neighborhood kid of 5 walking his Labrador
retriever around the block—of course, the dog is doing the steering.
A laugh is a bit
harder and requires more thought and meaning. Sometimes all you need is a joke
that you can remember even on the gloomiest of days. There are some jokes that
are guaranteed to a least bring forth a chuckle or a slight laugh.
Achieving a real
laugh that opens the mouth and brings forth a sound is real work. Sometimes a
more adventurous joke can be used. Sometimes a movie or a comedy show is
required. There are a number to choose from, including some vintage Saturday
Night Live episodes or if sitcom shows are the thing for you, then 30
Rock or The Office can turn on the laughter. Some movies
that often fit the bill are Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure,
the Big Labowski, or There's Something About Mary.
Whatever works that
can reduce the stress, brighten the day, or bring that smile or laughter into
your life is what's important. The load is heavy, and lightening it can bring
out the best in all.
