We're all familiar with the 5 senses - sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste...all the physical senses. I also believe in our 6th sense - our intuition - I could fill a 500 page book with all the intuition stories. Unfortunately most of them are about when I didn't listen to that intuition...that still small voice that we all have...

Here is another sense that you might not tap into often enough...think about it.

The 7th sense–your sense of humor might be the most important one that you have.. Being a recovering workaholic myself and an extremely serious person, I take this sense very seriously indeed. I didn’t even learn to spell fun until a couple of years ago and then after I learned how to spell it I had to look it up to find out what it meant.
Truth? It means different things to each of us. My idea of fun may not be yours and his idea of fun is certainly not mine. So how could anyone define it when it’s practically indefinable.

If we forget about this one I think we’re in trouble. Maybe this is why there is so much negative news, so many hard feelings, so many bad vibes, shootings, shit going down. We forget to laugh!

Laugh!? Hah! Half– more than half–of the population doesn’t even remember to smile. If you see a puppy, most people smile, or if you see a baby you smile. What about another human being just walking down the street, or one that accidently bumped into you at the mall, or one who rang up your groceries at the store? What about your teenage daughter who just rolled her eyes at you? How about the employee who seems really sad? What about all of those people who need it more than anything else you could give them? They do not need your money or more things–they only want your million dollar smile.

Do you think you have a good sense of humor? Is it wry or dry? Do you play often? Sometimes? Never? Do you kid around, tell jokes, read humorous works, listen to comedians? Do you consider yourself a pessimist or an optimist? It would also be fun to get your opinion on the idea that everyone has a sense of humor–but we’re all a little different so we may not recognize humor in another person. Personally I crack myself up a lot of the time. And, I’ll listen to someone tell a joke and completely not get it at all. Does that mean I do not have a sense of humor or that I am naïve or that I just do not understand that other person’s sense of humor? I do not know. I would love your opinions on this.

How long has it been since you’ve said hello to your inner child? That may sound stupid to some people but there is a playful you lurking inside somewhere. He/she knows how to have a good time, how to relax and be carefree, how to swing as high as the sky, run fast, climb trees, shoot baskets, ride horses, take time to snuggle with the dog. What’s stopping you? It’s a new year and a good time to start a new good-for-you habit. It’s the best time to ask what else is possible?

I also believe that optimism can be learned. Let’s go back to the smiling idea. Just for today smile at everyone you meet. Expect something good to happen no matter what happened yesterday or last week. Let go, right now, of the past and what was causing you to frown. The only way the past continues to hurt you is if you hold on to it. You cannot un-ring a bell.

Smile instead and see what happens to your mood. Invite your sense of humor in to play. Let go and see what awaits you.