Middletown transcript., 1915-02-27
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DIR. MardenA' rs S /
Uplift Talks |
BY oRIsoN SWEET MARDEN. &
CULTIVATE THE HABIT y
cHEERFULNESs.
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OOVyrsht BY Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate

A woman in California, who, be-
cause of crushing sorrow, had
fallen a victim to dependency,
insomnia and kindred ills, determined
to throw off the gloom which was
making life so heavy a burden to
her, and established rule that she
would laugh at least three times a
day, whether occasion presented or
not Accordingly, she trained herself
to laugh heartily at the least provo
cation, and would retire to her room
and make merry by herself. She was
soon in excellent health and buoyant
spirits, and her home became a
sunny, cheerful abode.
To people who have lost the laugh
ing habit I would say: Lock yourself
In your room and practice smiling.
Smile at your pictures, furniture, look
lng-glass, anything, just SO the stif
muscles are brought into play again.
In order to become normal, the
natural fun-loving forces within us
must be released. Laughter is one
form of exercise which sets them
free, rescues men from the blues" :"
Somewhere l have read of a man
whose Laughing muscles" were so
paralyzed that his laughter sounded
like a voice from the tombs. Ameri-
can life is so serious that many men
lose their power to laugh. They can
force a little sepulchral chuckle, but
the genuine side-shaking laughter is
almost a stranger to their experience.
They are in such a serious chase
after the dollar. their life is so
strenuous, so given to scheming and
planning, that they do not have much
time to laugh. They do not know the
medicinal value there is in the habit
Of laughter, how 1t clears the cob
webs out of the brain, disposes Of
the pangs of worry and anxiety and
business pressure, takes the mind of
the grind of things, removes friction,
and helps to make life worth while.
You may not be able to cultivate
the optimistic temperament to any
great extent, if you lack It, but cheer
fulness can be cultivated. We all
know that If we brood over our sor.
rows, and dwell upon our misfortunes
our physical being very quickly sym
pathizes with our moods.
Talk happiness. The world is sad
enough without your woe"
A woman who has had great af1ic
tion says: 'I have had nothing
could give but myself, and so l made
the resolution that would never sad
den anyone with my troubles. have
laughed and told jokes when l could
have wept. have smiled in the face
of every misfortune. have tried Il
let everyone go away from my pres
ence with a happy word and brigh
thought to carry with them. Happi
ness makes happiness, and l mysel
am happier than. would have beeI
bad ! sat down and bemoaned no,
fate"
Encourage your child to be rnerr,
and laugh aloud" says a grea
French surgeon. "a good heart
laugh expands the chest and make
lne DlOOu DOuuu ASiiiy HAOh6'
We realize that it is very necessar
to train the mind in business priI
ciples; to train certain faculties I
do special things, but do not seel
10 think It necessary to cultivate tn
habit of cheerfulness. Yet not eve
an education is as necessary to tn
child as the formation of the chez
full habit. This ought to be regarde
as the first essential of the prepar
ton for life-the training Of the mir
toward sunshine; the developing
every possibility of the cheerful facI
ties.
Cheerfulness is one of the gre
miracle-workers of the world. 1t !
enforces the whole man, doubles al
trebles his power, and gives ne
meaning to his life.