Many of you know laughter has always been my bailiwick. Well, April is National Humor Month, so I think we should celebrate profusely and with great gusto. I don't know why it has been deemed the month to celebrate humor, it might have something to do with April Fools' Day. Whatever the reasons it couldn't come at a better time. Everyday the media reports yet another situation that reeks of doom and gloom. The past several months my compartment for negative news has been filled to the top. Oil prices are soaring, political figures are drowning in their moral crisis, home sales have plummeted, pet food has been recalled, the Antarctic shelves are slipping into the sea, tournedos are touching down in major cities, and sick cows are being dragged to the slaughterhouse. What next? Perhaps a meteorite will create a huge sinkhole in the middle of Manhattan. Wouldn't CNN love that? It's no wonder that stress levels are at an all time high and people are not laughing as much as they used to. However, if we are to see our existence in a rational way, we would recognize the fact that the world has always had problems. We live at a time where we can access news from all over the world and therefore we get the opportunity to hear a lot of bad news. If you buy into the fear that continually comes over the airwaves you will find yourself laughing less and less. America has already dropped from being eleventh in having a good sense of humor to twenty third in the world. What we must all realize is that humor is one of the most elegant coping mechanisms we have and we need it most in bad times. Victor Frankl who wrote "Man's Search for Meaning" while in the concentration camps stated that "humor was the souls' preservation". It is hard to imagine a more horrific situation where individuals found a means to create some levity to ease their pain and suffering. I would encourage all of you to find something to laugh at as often as possible. If you can laugh at yourself you have found the best joke of all. When laughter seems inaccessible, smile. It too will give relief and make the world seem like a friendly place. Remember "He/She who laughs last, lasts."

By LORETTA LAROCHE For The Patriot Ledger

Author, humorist, PBS star and Fortune 500 trainer Loretta LaRoche lives in Plymouth. To share your pet peeves, questions or comments, write to The Humor Potential, 50 Court St., Plymouth 02360, send e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  or call toll- free 800-99-TADAH (82324).