A curious fact
I can relate to this guy’s hours, can’t you? From Wikimedia Commons
“It is a curious fact that people are never so trivial as when they take themselves seriously.” — Oscar Wilde
When I think of the celebrities who annoy me most, I almost always think of the ones who appear to take themselves too seriously, as if they were the center of the universe, or had some sort of exclusive key to wisdom and significance. I won’t get tacky and list names, but I’m sure you can think of a few of these types yourself.
On the other hand, I find it hard not to like someone who is laughing. Even actors or politicians or pundits who don’t usually appeal to me at all become instantly charming when they are laughing, especially if they are laughing at themselves.
Laughter that is without meanness or hostility is one of the healthiest things we can do for ourselves and each other. Best of all, it’s free and fairly easy to come by. If you don’t believe me, just watch these videos. No matter how many times I watch them, I literally cannot get through them without laughing myself, because this kind of uncontrolled hysteria is very contagious.
Give one (or all) of these a try, and let me know: did you laugh too? And if so, didn’t you feel a bit happier afterwards? I hope so!
One year ago today:
Defeat Despair 
Julia, good morning! 🙂 I like being with people who are cheerful and enjoy a good laugh.
🙂 🙂
don’t have time to watch the videos right now but I will 🙂
Off to a birthday party where there will be a lot of smiles!.
Merry, I hope the birthday party was great fun. There is nothing like laughter to chase the blues away. May this week be full of smiles for you!
Julia hear yesterday on the news about a millionaire ” giving money away” and it was described like that 60’s movie “its a mad mad mad world.. One of my all time favorites next to” The Blues Brothers and Rocky 3..Testing right now a new app by Google called Google Cardboard. Has streetview in it. Oh. this coming weekend or my vacation weekend( last week of the month trying to “plan a daytrip to Virginia Beach. I need to know of a nice plave to eat lunch.( I know you are not going to say ‘Cracker Barrel or something from the 4 food groups.(McDonalds Burger King, Wendy’s or Jobba the Hut err I mean Pizza Hut lol). 2 80’s TV Show I think you would enjoy. ( both appeared on NBC) One was Quatum Leap, the other was The Pretender.. I think they are on Youtube, Hula and NBC.Com. If my trip get finalized, I’ll send you a note. Would love to meet you and Jeff.in person. Be blessed
Hey Raynard, let me know when they come out with Google Cook which will fix dinner for me! Believe it or not we don’t know of too many places to eat in Virginia Beach other than the usual chains, but the Belvedere diner is open for lunch and has the great ocean view! If you like diner food you’re set. Someone once told me I reminded them of Flo at Mel’s Diner (from the TV show Alice) so maybe that’s why I like it there so much. Be sure to let us know if you are coming our way, and we’ll connect if we can.
Giggle Giggle
😀
Julia, I love that sign (and those hours even better)! I’ve always threatened to show up at our office in my pink robe if I had to be there before 10:00. 🙂 I immediately thought of another all time favorite funny movie scene. It’s The Money Pit bathtub laugh scene. Thank you for the laughter today! 🙂 I so hope you’re having a good weekend.
Sheila, I remember loving The Money Pit but can’t remember anything about it except how hard I laughed. I will have to check it out and Jeff and I can watch it again. That sign is so me. Be sure to wear your fuzzy slippers to go with the robe!
Julia, I have a cartoon postcard of a lady in pink robe and slippers looking into her closet of hanger after hanger of pink robes and numerous pink slippers to match asking,”What shall I wear today?” 🙂 I looked at that Money Pit scene yesterday on YouTube. I hope your week goes well. 🙂
Sheila, what a hilarious cartoon! After my own heart for sure. I have a blue fleece robe that I practically LIVE in during the winter. Was the scene you are taking about this one? I just had to look it up. That maniacal laugh at the end would have fit perfectly with those other blog videos! Hope you have a great week too.
Julia, I’m glad that you were able to watch that scene. That is almost laughing to keep from crying! 🙂
Or maybe to keep from going berserk! Or maybe BECAUSE of going berserk! It’s nice to watch scenes like that; it makes today’s toilet malfunction look minor.
Julia,
Great videos. The first one-been there, done that!
Of all the infections we’re are vulnerable too, I’d make laughter the only one not to avoid.
-Alan
Amen to that. I just love contagious laughter. It’s so funny how hard it is to stop laughing when you’re not supposed to be laughing. Then watching other people crack up just adds to the fun. I love it when comedian loses his poker face and starts laughing along.
There are times when nothing is better than a great laugh. During two visits back to my home state this past month, I spent a lot of time with my young grandchildren, grandnieces, grandnephews, and other young people. Funny how being in the presence of the young ensures many hardy laughs. Five young family members ages 16 – 5 arrive on Thursday to stay with Hubby and I for four days — off we go to Magic Kingdom, Sea World and a day at the beach — more laughs in the near future.. I enjoy your posts as well as the quotes.
Yvonne, aren’t kids wonderful that way? (At my age, anybody 30 and under is a “kid” since that’s the age of my oldest child!) 🙂 Sounds like you have a wonderful time coming up. Have a blast and send us a report! Thanks for being here, I’m so happy you enjoy the blog.
This one always makes me laugh! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPY4yOmNw7w
Megan, I had never heard of them! Very funny. I think the “out of control” one is my favorite. Uncle Albert in Mary Poppins sang about the different kinds of laughter in the song “I love to laugh,” but he didn’t have nearly as many as they do! Really clever how they put in the texting scenes too. Thanks for sending that link!
😀 😀 😀 xoxo
Me too! 😀 xoxo
Is there anything better than a laughing baby? That was so much fun. Do you ever snort if you laugh that hard? Laughter can really be a life saver in a tense situation too if someone can start a giggle fest. I’m trying to remember when I last laughed till I cried and I think it was when Alys tried to straighten my wig in the parking lot of the Tea Room and it came right off. I think I’m due for a recharge. I think Bobby D’s signage in the photo is terrific, he obviously doesn’t take life too seriously. Have you seen the YouTube of the baby laughing at his dog chasing bubbles? The laughter is so cute and so is the dog. I especially liked that the dog was so gentle when the bubble fell close to the babies hand. Well, even if you’ve seen it, it’s fun to watch again. I hope you have something that induces laughter in your day Julia xoK
I love the wig story. We’ll have to think of something funny like that to do when you come. Maybe go by the capital and drop in on our congressional representatives’ offices wearing giant sunglasses or fake glasses/nose/moustache combinations. I had not seen that video you linked, it’s hilarious! I would have used that one if I had seen it. I don’t know who was funnier, the dog or the baby! I couldn’t figure out whether the dog liked the way the bubbles tasted (he didn’t always seem to) or just felt that he had to “fetch” them. I was laughing aloud! Thanks for sending this. Today was a TIRING day so I really needed to have a few laughs tonight!
You have both made me laugh out loud! Thanks for the chuckles, ladies, and Julia, I hope you have a less tiring day tomorrow.
Hi LB, today has definitely been better than yesterday. I came back after my 5:45 a.m. walk and promptly went back to sleep for a couple of hours 😀 so that was a good way to start! I’m glad you got a laugh from these videos. Petals and I have more “summer camp” mischief in store! 😀
I remember the last time I laughed until I cried…when I was reading Dave Barry’s Complete Guide to Guys. My husband had given it to me for Christmas, saying it would help me understand him. He was right.
Is that the one where he explains the difference between women and men, one of my all time favorite quotes from him? “If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant’s life, she will choose to save the infant’s life without even considering if there are men on base.” Dave Barry’s laughter therapy is better than any other therapy I can think of!
That’s the one. I particularly liked the chapter where he is describing how a guy & a girl differently perceive a conversation they’ve been having. My son adapted it as a monologue for his high school drama class.
I think I know the part you are talking about, it’s one of the most hilarious but so completely true things I’ve ever seen written about men and women and how they relate to each other. I’m sure it was a big hit in drama class.
Have to also nominate “Ferris Beullers Day Off.”
I totally love that movie. Some of the best moments in comedy history! For years, whenever Jeff was in a grouchy mood while everyone else was having fun, I would quote Ferris and say “This is dedicated to someone who hasn’t seen ANYTHING GOOD TODAY.” Luckily I would not usually break into singing “Danke Schoen” though.
Also “life moves pretty fast. Sometimes you have to slow down and take a look around; otherwise you might miss it.”
What ever happened to Ferris’s girlfriend- Mariah?
Michael, that quote sounds familiar — was it in a movie or something? I don’t know what became of Ferris’ girlfriend. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her in any other movie, at least I did not recognize her.
By the way, I meant to tell you how much I liked your recent devotional at Upper Room. Well done! Here’s the link for anyone who would like to read it: http://devotional.upperroom.org/devotionals/2014-07-09
Yes another quote from Ferris. Thanks for comments on my devotional. My friend in Hawaii saw it and got in contact with me also which was kind of neat. And my supervisor liked it too.
So I will have to try and write another.
I have not forgotten about sending you the writer’s guidelines from a few more sources. I’ll try to get to that soon. I thought that might have been a quote from Ferris. Matthew Broderick was born to play that role, and while I thought he did a great job in Glory, he will always be Ferris Beuller to me.
Have you seen “Men who stare at Goats.” Kind of fun with George Clooney. Jeff might like it. Supposed to have a kernel of truth within.
I haven’t even heard of that movie, but I checked it and it does sound interesting. In general, I think George Clooney is WAY, WAY overrated (just my opinion) but if the movie is good enough I might be able to get through watching him for the duration. I know, I know, women supposedly think he’s a dreamboat. Not me.
George Clooney overrated? So you are an apostate. The movie is based on a Non fiction book and actually does not have much of a plot, but I thought Jeff Bridges was fun in his role as kind of a hippie- soldier of the New Earth Army.
Glory was a great movie that I would not mind seeing again. Did you ever get to see Philomena with Judy Dench?
Michael, where Clooney is concerned, I am not an apostate, I am an outright heathen. I never liked him. I just don’t get it when an actor’s most celebrated “talent” is good looks. In college I knew a guy who was absolutely gorgeous, polite, a real gentleman and no flaws that I can remember — except this guy had NO personality whatsoever. Even his voice was predictable and boring. I didn’t dislike this guy, I just got tired of everybody talking as if he was a poster boy or something, as if there was nothing to him but his looks. I felt sad for him. I don’t feel sad for Clooney; he has gotten a lot of mileage out of his assets, such as they are. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a bit of an oddball in terms of what I find appealing. Jeff Bridges I have always liked (and his brother Beau too), so maybe the movie would be a fun one for us to watch. We did see Philomena, about a week after you first suggested it to us. We really enjoyed it; it was a beautiful story and I loved the way Judy Dench portrayed her as a strong character who was above anyone’s attempts at condescension. She had some great lines for the skeptical reporter who was so mystified by her faith. Thanks for letting us know about it. We are out of the loop when it comes to movies, and probably would not have known about it otherwise.