Keeping a Laughter Journal

If you’d asked me how many times I laugh each day, I’d have guessed once or twice at most—until I started keeping a laughter journal. For 30 days I jotted down every time I so much as sniggered. Turns out, I laugh way more than I thought, around six times per day. And while I like to think that I laugh at highbrow jokes, I’m a woman who cracks up when I hear what sounds like a dirty word on the radio (Day 8) or when someone trips in the street (Day 17), though I did feel a little bad about that. What’s more, I learned that being happy is something you have to work on. Recognizing what brings you joy won’t change your life, but it might lighten it a tad. And, sometimes, that’s all you really need. —Charlotte

Grainger