I can still picture it today. A 9-year-old me, right at that uncomfortable age where you aren't really a little kid anymore, but you're also not an adult. My family took a trip to Kalahari Water Resort in Wisconsin Dells and one day, everyone was doing this surfing activity, where you take a little boogie board and stand up on it while the water is pushing you up like a wave. My brother just went on it and it looked really fun, so I thought I would give it a try. So, I go up, a little nervous because everyone in line is watching me, I get my boogie board and step down on it, riding the wave... for about three seconds. Next thing you know I am being flung around by the water, and every time I would try to get up and off to the side, the water pushed right back at me. And as if that wasn't enough, a couple seconds later, my bathing suit bottoms fall completely down. Come on. With a little help, I finally got up and off to the side, trying not to cry just yet. I could see everyone looking at me with pity. Horrified over what had just transpired, I had no idea how to handle myself. I had a choice to make right there. My little 9-year-old self had a choice. I could have cried and ran to my parents, which is exactly what I felt like doing. Or, I could have laughed. And for some reason, at that moment, I decided to laugh. And I have been laughing ever since.

Those who know me know that these types of stories are a weekly occurrence for me. Whether it is falling down stairs, spilling my drink in restaurants (every time), saying something at the wrong moment, or just plain failing to do something right, my life is a constant reel of "I Love Lucy" episodes. And if I didn't choose to laugh at myself, it would be a constant real of humiliation.

Laughing at yourself is not easy. It takes a conscious effort to tell yourself to just let the frustration go. But once you do, you end up freeing yourself of all grudges. And yes there are situations where you really shouldn't laugh or can't laugh, but for the most part, life really isn't all that serious. Laughing at yourself makes people feel more comfortable with you and with themselves. Like, if you can laugh at yourself when you make a mistake, so can they. There is a common bond in having faults. We are only human, and humans make mistakes. So, why not just accept that it happens and find the humor in it. Nothing makes me happier than when I see people shrugging off mistakes they make and keep moving forward.

When we start laughing at ourselves, we let go of the self-conscious, doubtful part of ourselves and in exchange we end up beaming with confidence. It is a sign of control and maturity when you are able to chuckle it off. And it makes life a whole lot more fun. So, next time you find yourself tripping on the sidewalk, answering a question wrong in class, or being the victim of a joke, try taking a look at the situation and simply laughing it off. Life is just too short to build up anger and humiliation. It is time we start taking laughing at ourselves seriously.