As our nation and much of the world struggles to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, I state the obvious when I say that life doesn’t always go the way we want it to.
We are all being affected one way or the other by this current crisis.
Some bemoan the boredom and loneliness of isolation, as others cancel weddings or vacations. Many face losing their livelihood as businesses cut hours or close altogether.
Then there are the first responders, medical staff, law enforcement, and so many others who are risking their health as they work tirelessly to keep life running as best they can.
But regardless of individual circumstances, days on end of uncertainty and fear (It’s okay to admit you’re scared – really!) can easily leave you feeling weary to the bone, grasping for the energy to keep going.
Chances are you know all too well the standard advice; keep your chin up, have a good attitude, put a smile on your face.
Better yet, find something to laugh about.
Laughter sets the spirit free to move through even the most tragic circumstances. It helps us shake our heads clear, get our feet back under us and restore our sense of balance and purpose. Humor is integral to our peace of mind and ability to go beyond survival.
~Captain Gerald Coffee, POW in Vietnam
The Power of Humor
Countless studies have been conducted on the effects of humor and laughter on health and the benefits are enormous.
Boosting your immune system, reducing stress, relaxing muscles, lowering blood pressure, increasing your tolerance for pain, and hastening the healing process.
With so much power to heal and renew the spirit, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for overcoming problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health.
Humor is also a powerful and effective way to heal resentments, disagreements, and hurts.
Simply put, laughter unites people during difficult times.
Of course, awareness is one thing, being able to quickly and conveniently find something to start turning that frown around is quite another.
So, with this in mind, I’ve gathered a few of my favorite chuckle-worthy quotations to share with you in the hope that you may find one or two that bring a smile to your face during this challenging time.
When Life Knocks You Down
When life gives you lemons, squirt them in people’s eyes. ~Author Unknown
Today we will live in the moment – unless it’s unpleasant – in which case me will eat a cookie. ~Cookie Monster
An optimist is someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it’s a cha-cha. ~Robert Brault
Happiness is your dentist telling you ‘this won’t hurt a bit’ and then having him catch his hand in the drill. ~Johnny Carson
If at first, you don’t succeed, remove all evidence you ever tried. ~David Brent
A friend is someone who will bail you out of jail. A best friend is the one sitting next to you saying ‘Boy was that fun!’. ~The Maugles
God has wisely designed the human body so that we can neither pat our own backs nor kick ourselves too easily. ~Author Unknown
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes. ~Jack Handey
Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings. ~Author Unknown
Are there keys to a plane? Maybe that’s what those delays are sometimes when you’re just sitting there at the gate. Maybe the pilot sits up there in the cockpit going, ‘Oh I don’t believe this. Dammit . . . I did it again.’ They tell you it’s something mechanical because they don’t want to come on the P.A. system. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to be delayed here on the ground for a while. I uh, Oh God this is so embarrassing. I left the keys to the plane in my apartment. They’re in this big ashtray by the front door. I’m sorry. I’ll run back and get them.’ ~Jerry Seinfeld
Accept that some days you’re gonna be the pigeon, and some days you’re gonna be the statue. ~Dilbert
According to the statistics on sanity one out of every 4 Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think about your 3 best friends. If they’re okay, then it’s you. ~Rita Mae Brown
The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on. ~Robert Bloch
When you really, really want to slap someone, go ahead and do it. Just make sure to say ‘mosquito!’ when you do. ~Author Unknown
Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. ~Benjamin Franklin
The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits. ~Albert Einstein
I’m not saying let’s go kill all the stupid people. I’m just saying let’s remove all the warning labels and let the problem sort itself out. ~Author Unknown
I’ve been putting a lot of thought into it lately, and I just don’t think being an adult is gonna work for me. ~Author Unknown
Have you ever noticed? Anybody going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac. ~George Carlin
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep – not screaming, like the passengers in his car. ~Author Unknown
Remember, allowing yourself the joy of laughter doesn’t mean that everything is perfect, or even mediocre.
It simply means you recognize life is too precious to waste time on imperfections and temporary detours.
Related:
Will you be the passenger or the driver in your life journey?
About Marquita Herald
Marquita is an author, resilience coach and the chief evangelist at Emotionally Resilient Living. She’s also an unapologetic workaholic who loves red wine, rock n’ roll, road trips (and car dancing!), peanut butter cookies and (especially) a dog named Lucy.
She’s saddened and frustrated by excuses and cruelty and believes authentic compassion is the most powerful force in the world.
To learn more about Emotionally Resilient Living Start Here.
