Humor and Laughter

Do you choose to take humor personally, get upset by it, or overreact? Healthy humor (not angry, sarcastic, or hurtful humor) is simply an exaggeration of real life. That's what makes it funny. For example, take a Red-Skelton style comment such as: I haven't spoken to my wife for several months--I hate to interrupt her. That reflects studies indicating that the average male speaks about 12,000 words a day (most of them at work), while the average female speaks upwards of 50,000 words a day. When you hear a humorous comment like that, look for the kernel of truth and choose to laugh. The laughter can give your brain a shot of serotonin, which can act as an antidepressant.