I read a joke this morning that had me chuckling all day. It wasn’t that funny so I’ll not re-tell it but the principal is true: laughing at the start of the day is much better than crying

When I look back on potentially hard times, I can remember the funny gems that glimmer in there too. Like the time the head flew off the hammer when the consultant was testing my reflexes, or the fellow patient who made us all close our eyes as she rolled past in a wheelchair  just covered in a towel.

My mum says ‘you’ll either laugh or cry’ when life gets harder. I often cry at the end of a tiring day, but I am so thankful for the people that bring happiness in too . As it says in Ecclesiastes, there is a time for everything, so hold tight to the chance for laughter and get close to people who can bring it to you.

Make it a resolution to smile at least once a day. Life is stuffed full of hidden joys for you to uncover. I watched a clip of a sausage dog jumping across the snow in her garden, and another one where a litter of golden retrievers raced to greet their nurse. When a bird sings outside my window, it brings me so much happiness. Our rescue dog sleeping with relaxed abandon is another one. What forgotten gifts can you find today?