The short answer to that one is, I can’t remember. I sometimes think about why I don’t laugh much. I may have chuckle, or a chortle or let out the odd snort now and them, but rarely have a good old belly laugh. To be honest I find it kind of awkward.
I also don’t find what a lot of other people consider funny, to be funny at all. Certain comedians that other people rave about I really don’t rate at all (think Ricky Gervais et al). My social group enjoy a snicker every now and then, but we’re not really the type of people who gut wrenchingly guffaw. At home I’ll probably smile at something mildly amusing but C can really belt out the belly laughs to the point he’s crying sometimes, whilst I’m sitting there think what was so funny?
I recall a former work colleague arranging a laughter workshop during a wellbeing day. People gathered in a circle and just laughed. Really laughed. Personally, I was rather horrified at the idea.
Laughter is a way to get through life’s problems and release tension, just give that little bit of respite in a crazy world. There’s now a whole industry built on laughter yoga that provides tools and techniques for adopting laughter into every day life when you’re feeling a bit down, according to Sudi Pigott in Platinum magazine.
Apparently women are better at laughing at themselves than men, even about how ageing affects us, and we are 30 times more likely to laugh at something when we are with other people.
Laughter is often quotes as “the best medicine” and there is evidence to suggest that laughter has some powerful health benefits such as relieving pain, lowering stress, stimulating blood flow to your heart, lungs, muscles and increases endorphins released by your brain, and it can boost your immune system by releasing neuropeptides that help fight stress and possibly more serious illnesses.
Founder of the worldwide laughter movement Dr Madan Kataria said “To know laughter is good. To ‘do’ laughter is even better”. So why are we so inhibited by letting go?
I guess my own self-consciousness stops me from letting it go. I don’t even know what I find anymore. I’ve been to a few stand up shows, but didn’t find them funny at all, yet I can watch stand up on the TV and chuckle away merrily. I have experienced the spread of group-laughter; when one person starts laughing uncontrollably, then others join in, not necessarily because they found whatever the first person found funny, but it becomes infections. I’ve been a willing participant in that.
Sadly, the article doesn’t offer any suggestions as to how we might be able to inject more laughter into our lives. Do you have any?
Bells, Bakes & Bettering Myself 
Short answer: Nope. I am exactly the same as you. Mr finds things hilarious to the point of falling off a chair laughing , whilst I’ll find it vaguely amusing. I can be affected by contagious and group laughter but it will probably raise more of a smile or chortle than a full belly laugh. Throughout the pandemic we’ve chosen to watch more comedy or lighthearted television than doom and gloom news, but even then, nothing that creates a great guffaw. One thing that has made me smile more recently was watching a 5 year old have a proper giggle, they have less reservations and their joy is infectious 🤣
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