Ah yes, laughter is often the best medicine.
But there is often truth hidden in our laughter.
The things we laugh at? Those very things reflect a bit of reality back at us: that life is full of comical things — like a silly pair of sunglasses on a tired-out pooch. Or a silly pair of sunglasses on tired ol’ me.
There is satire, so often used in politics, and slapstick, honed to perfection by the one and only Dick Van Dyke (What? You’ve never heard of Dick Van Dyke? Enjoy the brief YouTube clip at the end of this post.). There are puns, which I enjoy but can never quite pull off. And yes, we sometimes veil our insults with humor — sarcasm –, but I’ve learned that these tyes of verbal stabs aren’t so hidden.
Yes, sometimes we laugh instead of crying because really, laughter seems the better choice in public. We’ll cry in private, or in the safety of our closest friends. And I sometimes think that is best.
httpv://youtu.be/sRaF4gk1yhY
In Your Words: What truths have you found hidden in humorous things? On a lighter note, who’s your favorite comedian?
[Tweet “Have you searched humor and found a hidden truth? #lifequotes”] [Tweet “What’s so funny? Looking for what’s hidden in humor #lifequotes”]
You’re invited! One more day to help me plan Bellamy’s wedding for my novella, Can’t Buy Me Love! The novella releases next May and I’m writing it this month. Visit this blog post for more details.
Comments 14
Too early for the truth in humor part, but I love Carol Burnett! Comedy at it’s best. For my favorite author it would be Erma Bombeck. So miss her. Did you know she died waiting for a kidney transplant? When offered an opportunity to move to the top of the list because of who she was, she refused.
Author
I love both Erma Bombeck — I’ve quoted her several times on this blog — and Carol Burnett. Our family owns the DVDs of the Carol Burnett Show and we are wearing them out. And no, I didn’t know that about Erma Bombeck — how selfless of her.
Great post this morning!
Love the dog; he and his like are the largest source for what I find funny, because, as Henry David Thoreau said, “The dog is the god of frolic”.
Can’t say who my favorite comedian is, because I’m not fond of comedy. It feels forced to me; the best laughter is found in the spontaneous.
And I loathe sarcasm. It’s merely rudeness with a crude disguise that insults the object both directly and indirectly…”C’,mon, it’s funny…I guess you just don’t have a sense of humor”.
Of course, those who practice sarcasm should know that “But I was only JOKING!” are the second most recorded last earthly words of the recently deceased.
Just behind, “Dude! Watch THIS!”
Author
You know, Andrew, I thought of you when I selected that photo, right?
I did. I did.
🙂
Never doubted it!
Your post made me think of why I laugh sometimes, Beth. I love humor and am a positive person, so I find myself smiling, grinning and laughing a lot. But sometimes that laughter covers up being uncomfortable or nervous, because you’re right — laughter is more acceptable than a deer-in-the-headlights stare. Laughter at someone’s expense, however, tends to make me mad. It brings out a protective instinct to protect whomever is brunt of it. What a great post to make me think this morning, my Friend. And your laughter is priceless and beautiful. 🙂
Author
Your comment reminded me of the first time I went rappelling, Donna. A friend took me and my husband out to teach us how to climb down the shear face of a rock wall. Once I leaned out over the wall and started descending, I started laughing. When my feet touched ground, my friend, who had been instructing me the entire way down, looked down at me and said, “You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?” My reply? “Nope. But I made it.”
Yeah — I laugh when I’m nervous. A lot.
Thanks for sharing this morning, Donna. I appreciate you.
Well that was fun. Thanks for adding a laugh to a difficult morning. 🙂
People make humorous comments to divert others’ eyes from hurt. I’ve seen humor—I’ve used humor—to try and sway a boy out of a mad and into a smile. Sometimes it works. 🙂
Dick Van Dyke is/was definitely a funny man. Robin Williams also had a way of making me laugh with his humor. He’s greatly missed.
Author
Ah, Robin Williams … so, so funny … and so, so hurting. Truly a tragic comic genius who will be missed by so many.
I love humor, it’s the best way to view many life events, and to view ourselves. I remember Red Skelton fondly and Carol Burnett is a fave. I sometimes picture myself managing some of her antics, and realize my writing contains a bit of slapstick. I need to be careful not to overdue that in life and writing, but it does add a certain glint to the eye and good endorphins for health, as even the Bible declares.
Author
Red Skelton — he was classic, wasn’t he? And he truly proved how much can be conveyed without uttering a word.
Oh, Beth, that clip was hilarious! And very classic Dick Van Dyke. He’s my favorite comedian, although I get a kick out of Martin Short as well, especially in the movie Pure Luck.
Happy laughing!
Andrea
By the way, I started reading A November Bride today. Love how it opens up with her cooking show. 🙂
Author
Martin Short is very funny too — and his turn as “Frank” in Father of the Bride was hysterical too.
And yes, I had fun with the opening of A November Bride. 🙂
Oh, yes. I could tell you had fun with it. Your humor cracks me up. It was an honest-to-goodness laugh-out-loud moment. I’m only surprised you couldn’t hear me all the way to Colorado Springs.