In college I (Leslie) shared a single bathroom with several other girls on the same floor of a residence hall. I enjoyed communal living during that time of my life. We all became good friends and learned so much about each other — especially each other’s little quirks.
One of the girls, for example, was often irritated by the little globs of toothpaste that inevitably appeared in the bathroom sink each morning from so many users. Everyone knew Lisa would complain. We came to expect it and often joked with her about being a neat-freak.
When Lisa got married at the end of our school year, we were all at her wedding and one of us (who shall remain nameless) warned her soon-to-be husband about her dislike of toothpaste in the sink.
Apparently, he made a mental note of the comment and when Lisa went into the bathroom on the first morning of their honeymoon, she found the following message written in the sink with a thick blue line of toothpaste: “I Love You, Lisa!”
This new husband understood the value of a good marital laugh right from the beginning. And while his first attempt at poking fun at his wife could have backfired, it didn’t. To this day, years later, they both love telling the story.
Now, let’s be clear that poking fun at your special someone must be done with caution. For example, you should steer clear of joking about sensitive issues – such as your partner’s weight, family, work and so on. In other words, if you’re not sure if your partner will think it’s funny, you’d better refrain.
See other stories in this series on laughing your way to a better relationship:
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Story 1: Remember Rule No. 6 for a happier romance
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Story 3: Laugh when you don’t feel like it – for a healthier relationship
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Story 4: Look for the funny around you – put the fun back into your love life
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Story 5: Find the funny bone in your partner – fill your relationship with laughter