Joy feelings magazine Feb 2020 | Page 57

And because humor is a safe method for testing mutual interest, you don’t risk overt rejection. You can casually feel the person out and segue into asking for a date in a way that feels natural. You smooth talker, you. Now you’re probably thinking, “But I don’t know how to be funny!” Look, we’re not talking about doing stand up comedy. In fact, Andrew Tarvin at Humor That Works says humor is subtle and requires very little effort. It can be as simple as a smile, a turn of phrase, a play on words or making a funny face. Even then, it’s not so much about being funny as being fun, and making people feel welcomed. “If you think fun, you think positive and you think inclusive,” Tarvin says, “you’re well on your way.” You know who’s super funny? Children. They’re always smiling, laughing and fun to be around. They think everything around them is hilarious, and they let you know it. Are they doing stand up like Chris Rock or Louis CK? Of course not! Kids are too busy pouring cereal down their pants and smashing bananas on their foreheads. You can take away two key lessons here: