John Gallagher said...

Oddly enough, I was just thinking about this last night.  I went out to YouTube and found the guy who won America’s got talent (ventriloquist) and watched a couple of his videos and really felt better!

Comment by John Gallagher - Feb 18, 2009 @ 08:57 PM

Chris Stephens said...

One of my favorite verses is: “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” It also says: “Laughter is good like a medicine.”  We were created to laugh and lighten up. Great thought Jeremie, we tend to take ourselves or our situations so serious we can’t laugh.  Loved it.  Lets laugh out loud today. See you at 1 day in Atl.

Comment by Chris Stephens - Feb 19, 2009 @ 10:56 AM

Ray Griffin said...

Great words from one of the funniest people I know!  One great joy is hearing from friends, sharing laughter, and literally having my spirit lifted.  I have recently gotten a kick out of Tim Hawkins comedy as well!

Comment by Ray Griffin - Feb 19, 2009 @ 02:29 PM

Lee Mitchell said...

Just hearing about Lucky again makes me smile.  Great reminder.

Comment by Lee Mitchell - Feb 20, 2009 @ 06:45 AM

Toni Ragot said...

Great remionder! Thankyou for reminding us, we need to laugh frequently. I will share these to all my colleagues…

Comment by Toni Ragot - Feb 24, 2009 @ 07:46 AM

Steve Powell said...

Always timely to be reminded to laugh. I get a kick out of hearing people to have an infectious laugh - Chuck Swindoll is one that comes to mind. Chuck also seems to have a somewhat “wicked” but refreshing sense of humour.

Comment by Steve Powell - Feb 25, 2009 @ 05:17 AM

Ngima Warui said...

reminder couldnt have at a better time ...laughter they say is the best medicine for the soul; watching my 13 Month old nephew insisting on walking on his own sent me rolling on the ground the other day…thanks

Comment by Ngima Warui - Feb 25, 2009 @ 06:39 AM

Praise said...

Indeed laughter is good for the soul…heals a lot of wounds too.  Great writeup!  Thanks Jeremie….I will surely share this with my colleagues, especially my boss!!!!!!!

Comment by Praise - Feb 25, 2009 @ 06:57 AM

Chuka Eborah said...

I had a good laugh when I read this article. I was a vitim of laughing too much, because I was told by my former boss at a time, that I am always happy even when I should be sobber.
My dear people, your worries will be solve the problem. Be happy and still find solution to your challenges. Many people suffer serious health problems because they carry unnecessary worries all about.
If you cannot laugh like me, please always put on a smile at al times.
I love you all.
Chuka
Nigeria

Comment by Chuka Eborah - Feb 25, 2009 @ 07:17 AM

akindipe leke ebenezer said...

i know that laughter is good for the suol and that is why someone like me will find a time to crack jokes with my stydents because laughter is extremly good for the soul.

Comment by akindipe leke ebenezer - Feb 25, 2009 @ 08:52 AM

pauline karimi said...

YES ! THE DEMANDS OF LEADERSHIP CAN TURN OFF THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF LAUGHTER.
WE NEED FOLK WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR AROUND US.
MAY ALL LEADERS STOP AND LAUGH ! LAUGH ! LAUGH ! AMEN

Comment by pauline karimi - Feb 25, 2009 @ 09:49 AM

Sylvester Ofogba said...

I once heard a quote “God has a great sense of humour… if you don’t believe it, look at the giraffe!”
Apart from the medicinal effects of laughter, life is more pleasant when we approach it with the ability to see the good (laughable) things in it.
Thanks for this article, Jeremie. It is worth every word in it.

Comment by Sylvester Ofogba - Feb 25, 2009 @ 10:16 AM

Jack Hickey said...

I have found that just going somewhere where I can watch people is a great release.  People are the greatest show on earth.  They will keep you laughing just by being themselves.  That includes laughing at ourself, people are watching you too.

Comment by Jack Hickey - Feb 25, 2009 @ 11:30 AM

dare shittu said...

laughter is spiritual! its an elixir for the sou! when i read this message i laughed for five minutes! everyone in my office started wondering what was wrong. then the amazing thing happened! in no time, everybody started laughing! the tension in the office was greatly lessend. U KNOW WHAT? I JUST DISCOVER A GREAT POWER OF INFLUENCE…... THE POWER OF LAUGHTER!

Comment by dare shittu - Feb 25, 2009 @ 12:00 PM

COMFORT PATRICK KAWAI said...

I love to laugh, but sometimes some people misunderstood me, they said I laugh too much, and sometimes, it provokes them as if am making a fool out of them. But to me it does not mean anything.

Comment by COMFORT PATRICK KAWAI - Feb 25, 2009 @ 12:12 PM

Martina Marcucci-Phillips said...

How refreshing!! Oh how I love to laugh! Laughter is the music in our walls!
In my life I have experienced far too many negative experiences…but I laugh hard, I laugh often, and I laugh out loud! It is this gift of laughter, I believe, that has kept me together!!
I own a company that teaches beginner driver education to TEENS!
Our slogan is: We make serious learning FUN!! ...and trust me, we have alot of fun at our school. The {older} crowd wouldn’t get it—but it keeps life light & happy!
I am truly blessed, with laughter and a joyful career! God IS good—& FUNNY!!
I hope I am never too old, or too tired , or too cool to enjoy a good LAUGH!!
Note this, even at my death the crowd will be reminded that FUN is the first three letters in the word FUNERAL!! In my opinion…it was a mis-print from the beginning!
Since death is a time to celebrate a life, I THINK it was really supposed to be:
FUN-FER-AL…..just someone made a type-o!!! Ha!! Enjoy your day!
PS - I really do enjoy this publication & love passing it on to my “worker-bees”!
Radically yours…........in HIS grip…...........Martina!!!

Comment by Martina Marcucci-Phillips - Feb 25, 2009 @ 01:13 PM

Robin Waddell said...

Thanks for reminding all of us that it’s good to laugh.  One of my favorite quotes is from Dr. Clifford Kuhn who said “Humor won’t cure anything, but it does improve a persons’s resources for dealing with the stresses of life” and also from Vera Robinson “laughter is too good a thing to leave to chance.”  I try to have a good belly laugh at lease once a day!

Comment by Robin Waddell - Feb 25, 2009 @ 01:18 PM

Ann Faircloth said...

Excellent article.  As a leader one of the most important qualities is the ability to learn to laugh at yourself, as you WILL make mistakes and being able to laugh at your failures shows your peers and subordinates that you are willing to admit your shortcomings and imperfections.  God bless!

Comment by Ann Faircloth - Feb 25, 2009 @ 02:17 PM

OLUSOJI KEHINDE said...

MAXWELL INDEED YOU ARE A GENERATIONAL LEADER. laughing is the key to happiness thanks for reminding me i will pass on the message.

Comment by OLUSOJI KEHINDE - Feb 25, 2009 @ 02:37 PM

Norbert Hopkins said...

Laughter is indeed good medicine!  I make a concerted effort to laugh at myself at least two times a day as a minimum.  I believe when one can laugh at himself/herself, he/she just won’t take themselves too seriously.  In this world we live in of doom and gloom, life is still good!

Comment by Norbert Hopkins - Feb 25, 2009 @ 03:59 PM

Nurayn Akorede said...

No doubt laughter ease once tension.

Comment by Nurayn Akorede - Feb 25, 2009 @ 08:47 PM

Akinola Emmanuel said...

laghing is medicinal. its the determining factor of the beauty outside.

Comment by Akinola Emmanuel - Feb 25, 2009 @ 10:09 PM

Wallace Njonjo said...

i called a friend last night and she was really funny, she’s been of late. i remember saying to myself after the call, i need some of that too. it was one of my new year resolution to laugh a lot but few weeks into the year, responsibilities and school work have weared me down. Thanks again for the reminder.

Comment by Wallace Njonjo - Feb 26, 2009 @ 05:22 AM

Grissell said...

Thank you for reminding me the importants of laughing.  In my busy day to day , I have forgotten how much fun is to laugh at myself and just see the world around me with a sense of humor. I am reminded that laughter is medicine for the soul and that we have a creator with a great sense of humor.

Comment by Grissell - Feb 26, 2009 @ 05:42 AM

Jide Oyekunle said...

Laughter: the very nature of God

Comment by Jide Oyekunle - Feb 26, 2009 @ 06:02 AM

Ubong Peter said...

Well, laughter is the antidote for worry.It is the shortest distance to happiness.

Comment by Ubong Peter - Feb 26, 2009 @ 08:05 AM

Nwaeke Peter Nwaeke said...

Laughter is highly desirable but we must be careful not to “overlaugh”.If you do,you could be taken for a jackass…However,in whatever situation you find yourself,please just keep laughing!!!!!!!

Comment by Nwaeke Peter Nwaeke - Feb 26, 2009 @ 10:21 AM

Billie Blessing said...

Laughing is as good to the body system as taken food or water on daily basis.  Get to laugh is giving your body medicine as stated in the bible. “Merry heart is a medicine to the body…..”  Smiling faces don’t grow old.  Catch that and practise laughing daily.

Comment by Billie Blessing - Feb 26, 2009 @ 10:27 AM

Akosile Afolabi said...

I love laughing at myself and at others.

It keeps me young and takes away stress.Truly life is funny and you enjoy it more if you can see the jokes.

Whenever you think you have stacked all the cards and suddenly something comes up that you did not plan.I always laugh at such times because you can never be smarter than GOD.

Comment by Akosile Afolabi - Feb 26, 2009 @ 12:10 PM

ojeakhena victor carlvin said...

it good to have a sense of humour

thank God 4 giving us something to laugh about and the ability
to create something to smile 4

Comment by ojeakhena victor carlvin - Feb 26, 2009 @ 02:00 PM

fehimiaghe said...

If you do not laugh, you are not a leaving human being.

Comment by fehimiaghe - Feb 26, 2009 @ 03:40 PM

Russ McFall said...

This came to me today at a very good point in my life, I have been stressing about work, and the unregular and hecktic life that has come upon me in the last month.

But thinking of when I last had a good laught was a difficult questions… (I can’t remember, this is serious)

Then I said, self this should not be difficult!  I should have a good laugh every day… There is enoghg goind on around me that I should find something funny.

So just like taking in life and I do, I need to find something comedic about it at the same time. 

Intead of fretting about what will come tomorrow….. I should laught about what today has brought me

Comment by Russ McFall - Feb 26, 2009 @ 05:04 PM

Ann Geier, Ind Mary Kay Future Ex Sr Sales Directo said...

Just last weekend we had 11 college age from church at our home for a fun, food, fellowship!

If you don’t have people in your life that make you laugh, invite some over, they are great fun.

Sometimes we think they need to learn from us who are older and more mature, but we also have lots we can learn from them.

And above all learn to laugh at yourself.

Ann

Comment by Ann Geier, Ind Mary Kay Future Ex Sr Sales Directo - Feb 26, 2009 @ 06:20 PM

Lois said...

Blessings Jeremie,

Will keep the laughter going.  I am going home to laugh with my husband and sons.  Thanks for the words and the picture at the beach having fun too. God bless

Comment by Lois - Feb 26, 2009 @ 08:47 PM

Paul said...

Thank God for this blogpost! I received this in my email when I’ve been feeling drained these past few weeks, because of leadership and ministry in the church. Thank God for this reminder again, that leadership need not be so serious.

I’m a laugher myself, and it was a long time since I really enjoyed a good laugh . So, thank you again! I need to find something to laugh again haha.

Regards,
Paul.

Comment by Paul - Feb 27, 2009 @ 09:03 AM

Steve Okunade said...

Dr John C Maxwell is a source of joy to we the young one, because is a good role model in leadership. the man is really influencing millions of people throughout the whole world. Glory be to God indeed.

Comment by Steve Okunade - Feb 27, 2009 @ 09:09 AM

Lloyd Gauthier said...

I have been saying this for years.  My wife has to remind me that you do need to be serious sometimes.  The job of a leader is very difficult and we can lose focus on what is important.  We can never take for granted how important it is for us to STOP and just laugh.  I work in law enforcement and we have been accused of laughing at the most inappropriate times and situations but it is amazing what the laughter will assist you trough.  I love to laugh and I love to see others laugh.  God bless all of those who put smiles on others.  I thank God for Dr. Maxwell who brings this skill into leadership.

Comment by Lloyd Gauthier - Feb 27, 2009 @ 03:34 PM

Gbemi Adewole said...

I really tried…but couldn’t remember the last time I had a good laff. Will need to consciously put that in my daily program.I never worry though.life is so transient,we need to inject loads of fun. Tx for reminding us

Comment by Gbemi Adewole - Feb 28, 2009 @ 06:37 PM

Shahan Azeem said...

Well, we all love to laugh but forget to do so as our minds are constantly engaged in our routines and cares for life. But, I agree we should stop taking ourselves too seriously. I’m reminded of my youth days when I used to enjoy Pink Panther cartoons. May God give us grace to enjoy life to its fullest as an act of worship. 

God bless.

Shahan Azeem
Pakistan

Comment by Shahan Azeem - Mar 01, 2009 @ 02:04 AM

Georgia said...

Today I was preparing to teach a class on baptism.  I decided to show a portion of the video of Nacho Libre and as I was searching for the desire theme I began to just watch.  I laughed so hard it hurt.  Ah…it is indeed good to laugh!

Peace!

Comment by Georgia - Mar 02, 2009 @ 10:04 PM

Jeremie Kubicek said...

What great responses. It is evident we all need a good belly laugh. Now, keep going. Keep rejoicing and enjoying what has been given to you.

I am glad this article helped you. I know it did me!

Comment by Jeremie Kubicek - Mar 03, 2009 @ 02:16 AM

Ife Sarumi said...

Thanks for reminding us of the need to laugh more. I am a laugher myself and I tell you there is nothing as soothing to the soul as laughter, even God is a laugher and as His children, am sure He doesnt expect less of us. Laughing makes you attractive, I’ve noticed people prefer to be with a laugher so I encourage us all to laugh laugh and laugh.

Comment by Ife Sarumi - Mar 03, 2009 @ 02:25 PM

funmi olayinka said...

A merry heart does good like medicine. Laughter is good for the body as well as the soul. It rejuvenates the whole body.

Thanks for reminding us to laugh more and not forget to pass it around as welll.
It’s contagious!!!

Comment by funmi olayinka - Mar 04, 2009 @ 04:56 AM

Patty Lou Bryant said...

Two funny things…I remember the Far Side cartoon from years ago that had two wolves standing around at a party. Each wolf is holding a sheep and there’s a huge bowl of “something” on the buffet table. One wolf says to the other, “Harold, try the sheep dip, it’s fabulous.” Still makes me laugh 25 years later.
Sometimes when I need a laugh, I look at youtube videos of animals. There is one called “two cats talking translation” that I have probably watched a dozen times. Again like Jeremie, that tells alot about me too.

Comment by Patty Lou Bryant - Mar 04, 2009 @ 03:54 PM

Thomas Semoi said...

Thank you for encouraging us to LAUGH. I have personally found great realease in areas of my life when i laugh. I often try to look for friends who could crack clean jokes so that I could laugh and laugh… It certainly is a medicine to me.

God bless you for this message.

Thomas Semoi
Philippines

Comment by Thomas Semoi - Mar 07, 2009 @ 10:49 AM

Penny Barrington said...

If you are not laughing each day, if you are not being hugged every day of your life then you are missing out. I am not a comedienne but I am funny and wish that I coudl foster that and not the serious side. I get into trouble for laughing out loud and often I see the funny side to things. I watch Fawlty Towers as the proven method of laughing when nothing else is doing.

Comment by Penny Barrington - Mar 12, 2009 @ 12:42 AM

okloho chris said...

even God laughs, so i see no reason why difficult times should make us not stand out of the time laughh at it, and get the solution, some time we dont get the way out because we did not take out time to come out of it and laught at it as it were

Comment by okloho chris - Apr 16, 2009 @ 10:18 AM

Idris A. Mabadeje said...

Laughter renews our energy. It is what everyone who hopes to remain in control of his life ans hopes to live long should engage in, no matter the circumstances of life. Laugh, I say laugh, laugh, ah ah ah ah ah ahahahahahah….............................

Comment by Idris A. Mabadeje - Jun 20, 2009 @ 08:34 PM

Godwin Thomas said...

Ever tried laughing at yourself? Just cast your mind back and you’ll realise how much there is to laugh about. Think the days you attended dinner without your cutlery skills. Think how you wished no one was looking!

Comment by Godwin Thomas - Jun 29, 2009 @ 04:30 PM