This April is National Humor Month’s 40th anniversary, a month dedicated to making everyone laugh and smile. This is why April begins with April Fool’s Day. National Humor Month was founded in 1976 by comedian and best-selling author Larry Wilde, Director of the Carmel Institute of Humor. According to the National Humor Month website, Scott Friedman president of the National Speakers Association has 10 ways to celebrate National Humor month; a couple are make an “already done list” and celebrate your accomplishments, go into work and put a cookie on everyone’s desk -no note or anything – just bam surprise cookie, practice random acts of kindness.
According to the National Humor Month website, they have a project that they encourage everyone to do. It’s called the decorate a smiley face project. It’s exactly as it sounds you decorate a smilie face with stickers, stamps, markers, etc. to make you and others smile.
According to the National Humor Month website, the employees of National Humor Month are trying to start a project this year to help kids get into reading using humorous books. The employees want to promote laughter and humor as a feel good factor when reading. They want to draw attention to funny books as readable and enjoyable books.
According to Huffpost Women, laughing can actually physically help you. Laughter reduces stress by lowering cortisol levels (cortisol is the hormone released when we’re stressed), laughing relaxes all the muscles in your body for up to 45 minutes and laughter increases blood flow which can help prevent cardiovascular problems. You should celebrate and have a good laugh.It may just help you stay healthy.
Humor is the best medicine. It was even used in the past. According to humor-laughter.com, the ancient Greek physicians prescribed for their patients to visit the hall of comedians. They would send their patients to the theater to be entertained as part of the healing process. Also early Native Americans had clowns who worked with a witch doctor. The clown was the third most important person in the tribe.
There are many different types of humor. According to Mark Nichol a write for Daily Writing Tips, some types of humor and their definition are dry humor- deliver with an impassive, expressionless, matter of fact presentation. High humor- humor pertaining to cultured, sophisticated themes. Juvenile humor- humor involving childish themes such as pranks, name calling, and other childish behavior.
If you’re in need of a good laugh or a smile you should celebrate National Humor Month. Celebrate with friends and family, and have a fun month of laughter. Pull fun pranks or just share fun jokes. This is the month of smiles and laughter so enjoy it.