March 21, 2017 (Tuesday)
I heard a new word recently: “Gelotology.” As far as I know, I had never heard the word before. It is from a Greek word and is “the study of laughter and its effects on the body, from a psychological and physiological perspective.”
A related word is “smile.” I couldn’t find a word comparable to Gelotology for “smile.” The dictionary definition of the verb, “smile,” is, “to assume a facial expression indicating pleasure, favor, or amusement.”
Before we ever learn to read or write or even talk, we learn what smiles and laughter are. We do it as babies. Babies do it naturally and spontaneously, without understanding what laughter and smiling are. But they still communicate their meanings.
Charlie Chaplin wrote a wonderful song about smiles:
Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile.
(Edited version of a 2011 blog)