15 Things That Cheer Me Up (click to comment)

Have you noticed when you’re down that there are some people and events in life that can’t help but put a smile on your face? Have you ever tried to stay discouraged listening to the music in a Mexican restaurant? It’s impossible. You may have walked in humming   “Nobody Knows the Troubles I’ve Seen,” but after a couple of choruses of “La Cucaracha,” you’ll be donning a sombrero and tapping your flatware to the beat. Chips and salsa will be flying. In John 16:33, Jesus warned, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.” Then he says, “But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Here are 15 other things that cheer me up:

1. Pre-schoolers. If you can get through the toddler part of the Christmas program without smiling, you have bigger problems than a humorist can fix.

2. Speaking Pig Latin. Unlike real Latin, Pig Latin only dates back to the 1930s. And it’s likely the single most annoying form of communication ever invented. Here’s how to speak it. You take the first consonant off the beginning of the word and put it on the end, adding “ay”. So my name is Hilpay allawaykay. The phrase “This is annoying” becomes histey is noyingay. A childhood friend of mine was fluent in Pig Latin was beaten up often. Try this at work, but be warned, someone may attempt to brain you.

3. Listening to banjo music. The banjo was invented by a gentleman whose guitar was run over by a wagon train, then dragged from Albuquerque to Seattle during a rainstorm. In all seriousness, I love the banjo. I find that guys playing the banjo love to take requests, so I ask if they can play “Far Far Away” or “Way Down By the Firehall.”

4. Holding a puppy. How can you hold a puppy without smiling? It’s impossible. Now holding a full grown Rottweiller and a cat is another matter. Find a puppy at a pet store and you’ll get a laugh and a face wash for free.

Here are six more bonus ideas: Do The Hokey Pokey. Put on a clown nose and visit a hospital. You’ll be funny even if you’re not. At stoplights, roll down your window, blow up a balloon and yodel. You’ll make someone’s day. Learn the trumpet. People will stay far away and you’ll have time to yourself. And if you’re down and discouraged, subscribe to the Laugh Again Podcast. Maybe you’ll even want to pick up one of my books. If this doesn’t cheer you up, well, I’ll send you a new edition of my book Laughing Matters, in Pig Latin.

And if there any items you would add to this list. Leave a comment. We love to hear from you.