is the motto of a very good friend of mine and I’ve decided to try and put it into practice

The principle is this: if you’re feeling down for whatever reason, or you’re hit by ennui or that malaise that seems to hang around every so often, don’t do what seems most tempting – to me anyway. Which is to slouch around, go home as soon as possible, lie on the couch and watch rubbish TV (made even more rubbish by the fact that here in Cairo, it’s next to impossible to get your hands on a TV guide). Or indulge in a bar or three of Green and Black’s milk chocolate (undoubtedly the finest milk chocolate in the world) which I did when I was back in London earlier this year

No. Throw your shoulders back, adopt a swagger and walk around as if you’re the best thing since sliced bread. Force yourself to go out, to meet people – one of the last things I feel like doing right now – and to laugh.  Apparently there’s some scientific evidence (isn’t there always?) that making yourself laugh releases all sorts of positive endorphins in your body

http://www.googobits.com/articles/1940-laughter-is-good-for-you-the-benefits-of-laughter-therapy.html

 I know it’s true and I know that meeting new friends, or simply laughing with old ones, is one of the quickest ways to make yourself feel better.  It’s just hard to shake off that ennui enough to want to try sometimes