My last post discussed some benefits achieved by a simple smile — a good place to start before advancing to a laugh, which in reality is “a smile that bursts.”
(Mary H. Waldrip,1914–1988)

What comprises a laugh? Both Ho Ho, of Santa Claus fame, and Ha Ha work well, as does Hee Hee, along with bevy of other titters. Consider a few laugh variations extracted from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

Chuckle: to laugh in a quiet way;
Giggle: to laugh in a nervous or childlike way;
Titter: to laugh in a quiet and nervous way;
Snicker: to make a short quiet laugh in a way that shows disrespect;
Snigger: to snicker, perhaps a condition between a giggle and a snicker;
Guffaw: a loud or boisterous burst of laughter;
Cackle: to laugh noisily;
Cachinate: to laugh loudly or immoderately.
Chortle: a breathy, gleeful laugh.

Interestingly, chortle, an invented word combining “chuckle” and “snort,” originated in the famous poem Jabberwocky. (Lewis Carroll ,“Through the Looking Glass,” 1871). Warning! Do not chortle while eating or drinking, as little good will come of it. You may have to change your shirt.

While old laugh words satisfy; new laugh words are welcome. As chortle combined chuckle and snort, we may consider merging: guffaw with cackle to birth “guffle” or “cackaw;” or giggle with titter to get “gitter,” “tiggle” or ‘tittle, or with snigger, to get “sniggle.” Laughter by any other name would be just as funny, and bring happy results, like the following:

Mirth: happiness and laughter
Glee: a strong feeling of happiness; great pleasure or satisfaction
Gaiety: a happy and lively quality
Merriment: laughter and enjoyment
Risibility: the ability or inclination to laugh. Just try using risibility in a crowd and see if anyone laughs.

Familiar lines inform: “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone.” (Ella Wheeler Wilcox, 1850–1919). People who laugh attract others; while people who weep, repel them. Simply stated, people prefer to associate themselves with happy folks.

Lastly, an old proverb proclaims: “One who laughs last, laughs best;” but in reality, “the one who laughs last, didn’t get the joke.” (Carroll Bryant, Goodreads)

What better way to start the day than with a simple smile. In addition to making us feel good, it reveals an inner happiness and usually fosters a return smile in the presence of another. Moreover, a happy smile may bring health benefits. According to a psychologist, “the act of smiling activates neural messaging that benefits your health and happiness.” One smile will release the “feel good neurotransmitters:” dopamine, endorphins and serotonin, which combine to reduce stress. (Psychcology Today, June 25, 2012.) So as you move through your day, smile as often as you can.

An old proverb tells us that “All people smile in the same language.” Everyone knows people who sport a winsome smile, which makes us feel good, and wish to befriend or assist the smiling person. A tender smile can break down barriers, ease tension, and improve relationships.

Many song lyrics have been inspired by a smile. Consider the pop song “When Irish eyes are smiling,” which includes a telling, but little used verse:

“There’s a tear in your eye,
And I’m wondering why,
For it never should be there at all.
With such pow’r in your smile;”

and the song “Smile,” written by the silent movie comedian Charlie Chaplin and popularized by Nat King Cole, ends with the lines: “You’ll find that life is still worthwhile, if you just smile.”

In addition to helping yourself, a simple smile may go a long way to help others. Mother Teresa (1910—1997), who was canonized recently as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, dedicated her life to caring for the dying, with diseases like HIV/Aids, leprosy, tuberculosis; and for the living, by running soup kitchens. Despite the hardships of her life and work, she was known for her ready smile. She frequently professed: “We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.”

What better way to end this post than with a quote from the comedian, W. C. Fields (1880-1946): “Start every day off with a smile, and get it over with.”