Moments of Mirth (Humor Challenge Day 15)
Here’s a great way to experience humor that doesn’t require you to go anywhere or do anything other than relax and… remember a past humorous memory or Moment of Mirth.
Today's humor challenge: Moments of Mirth.
We’ve all got stories that we share when we get together with friends or family—usually preceded by “Remember the time when…?” These stories usually grow and get even funnier over time.
I keep a journal and when I think of another Moment of Mirth (MOM) I jot it down. There’s an old Chinese proverb that says the palest of ink is better than the sharpest memory. (Especially MY memory!)
When feeling like I need a humor boost I pull out my MOM journal and laugh over an incident that might have otherwise been forgotten. Like when my son Adam, at 4 years old, hopped up into the barber chair and said to the barber, “Gimme a flat top.”
The barber saw the surprised look on my face and said to Adam, “Is that what your mom wants?”
Adam looked him straight in the eye and shot back, “Why would my mom want a flat top?”
Recalling humorous events can be just as entertaining (maybe even more!) than when you experienced them the first time. Recalling funny stories can provide physiological benefits like muscle relaxation. This can provide psychological benefits like decreased anxiety or depression. And you can even experience social benefits when you share these stories with others.
So that’s today’s challenge: Reminisce for a bit. Tap into a Moment Of Mirth. Write it down. And then to get even more mileage out of it, reach out to someone today and share it. You’ll both benefit!
