That's what science agrees on. Laughter is very simple like medicine to us when we need it most. Feeling down, or angry, or anxious? Find something to laugh about. It may be a funny book, movie, CD, or somebody, but do it now.

You see, humor is out there all around us. Of course, so is stress. But even stress can be a source of humor. Like my mother-in-law, for example. What a stressful old gal, but at the same time, you have to laugh about it.

Now, I'm not down on mother-in-laws, but mine gets up every morning and smiles and gets it over with. She has the same look on her face all day long. Like she went into somebody's back yard and kicked a strange dog.

And she loves to eat. I mean, she puts mayonnaise on aspirin. Then she complains about the way she looks. I said, "Don't worry about it, heavy bottoms are in this year." Soon as I could talk again I apologized to her.

Then she talked my wife in to booking me a doctor's appointment for a colon check. I did not want to have my colon checked. I like my colon just like it is. I've never desired to have someone drive what feels like a John Deere tractor up my backside.

Of course I had no choice in the matter. They did it and I had to go.

But I did get her back in my own way. Later that night I mixed up a little crazy glue and put in mother-in-laws Preparation H.

She walked a little crooked for a while, but she got over it.

You see, sometimes we can turn stressful situations into a reason for a little humor. The next time you find yourself in a bad situation, try to see the funny side of it. It's there somewhere; you just have to uncover it.

I never win with my mother-in-law. I just try to stay even, but usually lag one or two behind. She invited us over for super the other evening. And when I got there I noticed that she had gotten a cat. I said, "I'm allergic to cats!"

She said, "That's okay, I'll serve something else."

About the Author

Nate Coker spent years in broadcast news until one day he just went bonkers. Wondering around in never never land, this is the result: http://www.ticklemegood.com