A sense of humor is a terrible thing to waste
By blueskies
@blueskies (1186)
United States
February 12, 2007 10:42am CST
I was sitting at my desk this morning, mulling over the last meeting with my son's school. At the meeting, the school psychologist commented on how my husband and I are constantly joking around when dealing with my son (who has special needs). She commented that Collin has a wonderful sense of humor and that she could see that it really helped him to overcome his persistant anxiety and obsessions to joke about things.
That led to another thought: I was helping my kids do a "room switch" this weekend. It was a long, involved process that involved lots of manual labor in a rather small area. At one point, my daughter dropped her thimble collection and broke the heads off two precious moments thimbles. I immediately started to stress out because the thimbles were "important". I snapped at her to be more careful and took the thimbles from her hand. After a moment, I handed them back to her and said "two heads are better than one". We all started cracking up. I have no idea where that came from, it just popped out of my mouth. My daughter's boyfriend couldn't get over the fact that I could get angry, then 30 seconds later make a joke. I guess we joke so much every day in an attempt to diffuse stress that it has become a habit.
Do you find yourself cracking jokes to lighten the mood? How about at somber occassions, such as funerals? I admit that I have to restrain myself at such times. Do you think humor is a kind of defense mechanism?
32 people like this
40 responses
@Naomi17 (624)
•
12 Feb 07
Sometimes you'd cry if you didn't laugh! Just remember the thimbles are only things the important things are you have your sense of humour and your laughter!
You still have the precious memories to hold onto they won't disappear.
Humour is sometimes the only way to get through things your huting but you know you have to lighten up
@Beauty999 (38)
• Canada
12 Feb 07
They say laugther is a good remedy to healing, making a negative out of a positive is great. It is a special thing to be able to laugh even when things go wrong so what else could have done - get angrier which wouldn't solved any problems anyway.
People have a theory that there is healing in laugther. If you can find humour in situations where noone can find it sometimes takes real special and unique people.
Looks like you met your match made in heaven of a husband who enjoys life with you. I can find humour too in things people would never ever imagine, all it takes is a good attitude and imagination.
4 people like this
@Sawsen (793)
• United States
13 Feb 07
I think it is a type of defense mechanism. But that was a funny joke lol. Like today I boiled some squash for my daughter who's 9 months old so she could eat. I was mushing it in a bowl so I could feed her. I put it on the table for it to cool down and went to where my mom and daughter were sitting. My mom was playing with my daughter and she put her on the floor so she could walk. I decided to get the bowl so she could feed it to her. I gave her the bowl, and she took it with one arm, and held my daughter with her other arm. I thought my daughter was about to fall so I ran toward my mom to get my daughter. My mom thought something was wrong and placed the bowl on the side of the couch, and she grabbed my daughter with her other hand. Needless to say, the bowl of green squash ruined my NEW carpet! lol I was a little upset at first, and my daughter began crying because she realized that her food was gone. And then a minute later, my mom said, "it's ok you didn't peel the skin anyway." And I just burst out laughing. I thought it was funny at a time like that. I think humor is a defense mechanism because I remember Jim Carrey saying he used laughter as a way to cope. He had so many problems, but laughing and making people laugh helped him with those problems. So I say, keep laughing. And keep others laughing. Because laughter is food for the soul.
@ladymoonstone143 (1507)
• United States
12 Feb 07
I always admire people with a sense of humor. We need laughter in our life because if we just keep on focusing all the serious things we deal everyday, we will be smiling less. My mother told me before, to prevent gray hair, we should laugh more often. People who doesn't know how to love gets old quick.
4 people like this
@cassidy22 (2974)
• United States
12 Feb 07
This is actually a very common psychological response to stress and anxiety. It's part of the fight/flight response - it's a decision to lessen the amount of anxiety in a situation, even though we know it is serious, by bringing in humor. If we had to bare the weight of every serious situation we were faced with, it would drain us.
4 people like this
@MGjhaud (23200)
• Philippines
13 Feb 07
when im angry. i try to stay away with people because as long as i cannot hear any words from other people, the better. my father used of entertaining people that visits our house and he frequently tell jokes so that he'll not bore them and i think that its a good idea cause first impression lasts, right. i dont think humor is all that defense mechanism cause i have this friend that really is a joker. no matter how serious you approach him, you really are going to laugh at his humor cause he's not the serious type at all.
3 people like this
@budsr03 (2350)
• Canada
13 Feb 07
There's a time and place for humor and it's any time and any place. Haha! It sure helps me to cope with some problems. I would like to see more people use humor because the world could be a better place. Take care Blueskies.
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
•
13 Feb 07
I always try to make light of things in certain situations.
In meetings I am the one who comes out with a remark and this usually makes people laugh.
Also, during the day if certain parents are driving us mad, we will lighten our frustrations with a few witty comments to each other.
Humour is a vital part of my daily life. I know when to be sensible, but I also know when to have a laugh. Its awful when some people are so anal and they do not know what having a laugh is all about.
I even find this with some of the children I work with.
When I joke with them, they just seem to take every word as gospel and do not have the understanding of wit or humourous banter.
Then there are those who have a great sense of humour and I must admit the communication with these kids is so funny.
It can at times be a defense mechanism for me if I am not willing to deal with things on a more adult level, but hey, if I can laugh my way through life, this is what I prefer!!!
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
13 Feb 07
I believe humor is a defense mechanism . I have heard of people being told something horrible and the person laughing and not be able to stop . I feel that this is the shock of the news they have just heard and it is there way of coping with a bad situation that they have no idea how to cope with .
3 people like this
@bestisyettocome (1531)
• United States
13 Feb 07
I use humor very often to lighten situations. I can get the giggles in an instant, and have trouble stopping at times. I think, sometimes, if you don't, you will go crazy. I think if you can't be so spontaneous to popoff, you must have too great of control over yourself. People label me crazy for it, but it's just the way I am! Nice to know someone else is too!
3 people like this
@Lavera1 (896)
• United States
13 Feb 07
For some people humor is a defence mechanism. I say so because I have a sister who is very humorous but very bitter and angry. So she laughs to keep from crying. For me it's a stress reliever for it allows me the freedom to stand back and look at myself. And also to put myself in the other person's shoes.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
12 Feb 07
Yes I think oone of the things humor is, is a defense mechanism, and that it is a way of coping and lightening things.. and is also a way of being merciful.. Yes, I think humore helps alot. Sometimes I think humor is affection! It's a kindness, a way of saying, "hey don't worry about it", and trying to make it lighter for others, as well as ourselves..
@nannacroc (4049)
•
12 Feb 07
I use humour all the time to relieve stress but sometimes I haved to be careful as some people have difficulty understanding my humour. I love playing with words and sometimes annoy people by pretending I'm taking what they say literally. It relieves tension and helps you stay well enjoy it.
3 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
12 Feb 07
Laughter is very good for your health. So you are more than likely helping your son by making him laugh and he will gain friends who enjoy his sense of humor. I also occasionally laugh at situations that are not funny. I do try not too I am instantly ashamed but the more I try to control it the more I laugh. I have laughed at an old person slipping or tripping and falling, there is nothing funny about that at all. I think it is some kind of a nervous reaction. Now that I am joining the ranks of older people I would probably get up and whack anyone if it was me that had fallen.
3 people like this
@sweetaspie52 (2359)
• United States
12 Feb 07
yes I too think that laughter is the best medicine and I love a good joke
3 people like this
@krishkorp (427)
• India
12 Feb 07
Even i have the same ability to get short and then cut a joke to lighten the mood.Its a kind of defense which we take ,but we have to be rather careful when around serious stuff.I tend to joke there also and i am stared back.Anyways i love to see the lighter side of the situation after assessing the damage.It works fine for me.
3 people like this
@AskAlly (3625)
• Canada
12 Feb 07
I think humor is always a good stress release. Mind you I have said things at the wrong time as well. But then I figure lighten up people!
We kind of went with the motto, If you are not laughing with us, you'll be crying alone.
Worked well in most situations.
