I love to laugh. Humor has been a key stress reliever for me for as long as I can remember. In fact, many people have told me that they have often concluded that I never have any problems because I always seem to be so happy. What they do not know is that,  if I thought about it for more than a minute, I could find something to cry about each day. Rather than focusing on what “isn’t” and falling victim to discontent, discrimination, depression,  I’ve made a conscious decision to maintain a merry heart—even in midst of adverse circumstances.⠀
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My secret?  I am intentional about having fun. I let people know that I enjoy a good laugh. I swap jokes with friends. I laugh at my mistakes before anyone else has an opportunity to do so.   I’m not shy about sharing my most embarrassing moments (I try to let good taste prevail here). I warn people that I’m subject to uncontrollable fits of laughter when someone trips or falls. So be careful around me!

May I gently suggest that you shed that Superwoman/Superman  image and start enjoying lalughter. This doesn’t mean that you have to relax your standards of excellence. It just indicates that you are aware of the fact that you and those around you are human and that you need to grab all you can out of life. And, guess what? You’ll get a bonus benefit: it will improve your physical and mental health. So say the people at Help Guide (https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/laughter-is-the-best-medicine.htm), an independent nonprofit that provides free mental health education and support.

Now, just for the record, it was the Bible that first said,  “A merry heart does good, like medicine…” (Proverbs 17:22 NKJV). So have fun. Laugh often!