Is this a time to laugh?
A laugh might not come easily in Lockdown. Perhaps you have read some of my posts on ways to cope. I did not mention it, but I should have. You might chuckle in spite of all the problems or because of them. The worse things are, the more you need to really guffaw.
Why would you want to laugh?
Doctors believe laughter can relieve stress and be good for your physical and mental health. And it’s cheap. Ken Dodd said everyone had a chuckle-muscle, they just had to exercise it, and his job was to help them. Have you tickled yours lately? Laughter can take your mind off your troubles for a while and it can put them into perspective.
What can you laugh at?
We are all different. What I find funny might leave you cold. Try finding it: on TV, a video, the internet, a book. Have a giggle over the phone with a mate who likes a good joke. Or a bad one. Try to see the funny side in things around you.
Laugh at yourself!
Don’t take yourself too seriously. See the funny side of your mistakes. The Duke of Edinburgh once said he knew some Nazis back in the 1930’s. They all took themselves and everything else seriously. They got quite angry with him for finding them amusing. He said he had since noticed that extremists of all kinds have that in common: the lack of a sense of humour.
Be British: laugh!
Napoleon’s troops marched into battle to a tune, ‘pas de charge’. It struck fear into soldiers all over Europe as they knew what was coming. Except the British. Our lads called it ‘Old Trousers‘ and made up silly words to it. When they heard it, they laughed. The French couldn’t understand us. They still don’t. Be British. Laugh!
A Remembrance Day Service. A laugh was one of the weapons our lads used.