Mankind has two attributes that set it apart from all other species. They are laughter and singing. I’m not sure which came first, but both originate when we are just babies.
The unmistakable giggle of a 2-year-old when they find something funny puts a warm place in our hearts. It is the first recognition that something that happened wasn’t quite right and they realize it was a mistake that could have been avoided. Or perhaps it was the antics of an adult done purposely to invoke laughter. When they are just months old, we tickle the tummies of our babies to evoke an acknowledgment from them. When we get even the slightest grin from their lips, we grin back and thus reinforce the action.
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