by Matt Bird

Created on: May 15, 2009

We all like to think that our relationship is going well, regardless of the reality of the situation. Nobody ever wants to admit that their romance is falling apart, after all - who would? It's depressing. And one of the easiest ways to keep a relationship strong, and far away from the sad state of affairs, is through humor.

It doesn't matter what the humor is. The two of you might like sitting and laughing over bad movies. You might exchange witty, sharp-tongued dialogues that keep you both happily silly. You may even just act like a pair of goofs around the house, using the usual gentle teasing of one another's foibles - the kind that's critical, but only in the lightest and funniest of ways. As long as both parts of the relationship are happy and laughing at each other, that relationship will likely remain strong.

Why? Because humor is a unifying force. It brings people together through even the most adverse of conditions. One of the biggest reasons people get together in the first place - outside physical attraction, I suppose - is that they make one another laugh. Logically speaking it makes sense, after all: humor creates goodwill between two people, and thus those two people will want to spend more time together. More time can easily blossom into a romance. More, it helps long-established couples get through the tough times, and times will get tough occasionally no matter how fortunate a pairing may be.

Humor is also a rejuvenating element. It keeps relationships from getting stale. Again, people will want to remain with those who can make them laugh, as laughter is engaging and makes you feel good. Your life may be horribly tedious, but as long as there's some joker to come home to to make your existence that much brighter, all the tedium will be worth it.

And, leading off of that - and possibly of most importance - humor is creative. The maintenance of humor requires a mind that's always working and willing to try new things in order to get a laugh. Those with a good sense of humor are more likely to suggest trying new things and keeping engaged, if for no other reason than to spread their comedic repertoire. A lack of funny leads to stagnation, and that in turn can quickly lead to the death of any couple.

A household filled with laughter is a household that, hopefully, is happy. Those who laugh together love together, and so any successful relationship requires at least a minimum sense of humor. If nothing else having a self-styled jester around keeps things from getting boring, and that's often more than enough to sustain even the most ill-matched of couples.

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