Monday, February 22, 2010

Laughter

Where did laughter come from? Throughout human history was laughter an important part of surviving? Would cavemen laugh along with each other to help make a rough day of hunting and gathering seem like a distant past?

How does a baby know if something is funny? It seems as though they are laughing and smiling as much as they are crying. What are they so happy about? I think they are in tune with living in the present and enjoying life in its most simplest form. Babies observe, react, and share their feelings. What more can a person hope to do? When life is broken down to its most elemental parts, we find out how similar we all are. Sometimes, all we want is to smile inside and radiate it out.

Most sincere laughs are stunningly beautiful. The mouth starts closed and calm. Then the smile breaks free and leads the way to reveal our teeth. One might think this would be threatening, but instead an honest smile is inviting. In the next step, the laugher’s mouth opens wide with a strong breath that supports an incredible and jubilant force. What is this sound? And why would the human body want to make such a noise? We show our teeth, gather energy, and then release a booming form of expression. And yet, we spectators do not fear, nor do we see the laugh as an act of aggression. Instead, we empathize with the laugher, and often times impulsively join in. We are brought to a place with no cares or worries. Where boundaries disappear, thoughts vanish, and all that remains is joy. At this point, we just are.

1 comment:

  1. JB Kal, what a great way to look at laughter. I especially like the idea of "boundaries disappearing." It's so true. And what could be better than to lose yourself in the joy of laughter. Keep writing, I look forward to your next post! By the way I like the pictures too.

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