Laughter. There is no replacement for a great laugh. You can’t conjure it up. You can’t fake it and it can’t be forced. I’ve found myself saying before, “That is too funny!” only I’m not laughing. It was a statement. How funny can it be then?

The experts say laughter is beneficial to our overall health, a great stress management reliever, and even a body and heart workout. Sounds good to me. But not every day do I feel like laughing. Sometimes life is overwhelming and I’m just trying to get through the day. Ever felt like that?

Jerry B. Jenkins said in a writer’s conference one year that our life is 5% of what life throws our way and 95% of how we respond to it. That stuck with me.

In the midst of stress, I can choose to think of the positive side. In the midst of difficulty, I can choose to look for the lesson to be learned. In the midst of the mundane, there is still a funny side. It’s all about perspective.

Our daughter has this thing she does daily, “Here is my random word of the day.” She says. Then she blurts her random word.

It cracks me up. We never know what it will be, what she’ll say, because of course it’s … random. But it’s funny to see what floats into her mind in that instant.

We have a quirky dog that acts like a trained seal when it comes to balloons. When I need a good laugh, I blow up a balloon and play volley-balloon with the dog. Never have I seen a dog so careful to not pop a balloon and still keep it up in the air. It’s funny!

My second trip to the dentist due to facial swelling isn’t funny, but how I look in the mirror right now with a half swollen face … is.

Choose to find laughter and humor in today’s events. In addition to gaining a new perspective, you’ll get a bonus workout without leaving your chair. What a value!