It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humour. – A Christmas Carol

My Take – When I’m around a bunch of happy people, I feel better, and eventually I start to laugh along with them.  Being happy is sometimes hard to do, but it almost creates a feedback loop when people start to make each other happy.  Tell an old joke to someone who hasn’t heard it, and you will get as much pleasure out of it as they did when they start to laugh.  I love going to the range and shooting, but doing it with a crowd of friends is much more enjoyable, as experiences are shared and stories are swapped.  Think of how much we react to the sound of children and babies laughing, as well as the laughter of other adults, and you may discover the reason we are a social creature:  We enjoy the happiness of others.