The Optimism Advantage: 50 Simple Truths to Transform Your Attitudes and Actions into Results

Chapter 13. Humor Is the Joker in the Hand of Life

"Everybody has used the expression, 'Someday we'll laugh about this.' My question is, why wait?"

—Joel Goodman

Jan was in her early 90s and still finding her way around New York City. When her car stalled at a bridge toll booth, she was unable to restart her engine. Knowing nothing about cars, she put up her hood to a chorus of honks from the irritated drivers behind her. Smiling at the man in the first car, she slowly walked to his door and knocked on the window. "I'm 93 years old, and I don't know anything about cars. Optimistically, if we're going to move, somebody is going to have to help me start my car. Why don't you go work on my car, and I'll take over the honking."

"The human race has only one really effective weapon, and that's laughter. The moment it arises, all our hardness yields, all our irritations and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place."

—Mark Twain

When she told her newest 89-year-old boyfriend about her humorous exchange, he reminded her that she was probably too old to be driving in New York. She responded with smile, "You better be careful. I've buried everyone who ever told me to act my age."

Talk about wild cards! There is no better card to play in life than the joker. Humor has a way of making even a poor hand a winner. And even if you don't win, you have a heck of a lot more fun while losing.

Renowned psychiatrist Eric Berne was once asked to define a healthy person. He replied: "Healthy ...