Instructions how to laugh, Julio Cortázar

"Forgetting the motives, let's try and focus on the right way to laugh, and by this I mean not a laughter that reaches an embarrassing scandal but not a simple smile either. Ordinary laughter consists of an involuntary contraction in the muscles of the face along a funny sound that varies according to each person and in some special cases, can also come to tears (Do not mistake these tears with the ones that come from sadness. See "Manual with Instructions of How to Cry").

To laugh, direct your imagination towards someone or something else and if this is impossible due to so much introspection, think about democracy or socialism; or maybe even take a look at yourself in the mirror.

Once laughter comes you will feel your chest contracting, do not fret, this is normal. Once laughter starts you will have to tilt your head slightly up and continue laughing until some tears appear, you might feel you have run out of air; don't worry, you have no risk of choking. You will then proceed to take turns of laughter and inhaling fresh air until laughter comes to an end. Approximate duration of laughter 3 minutes."

Julio Cortázar, Around a day in 80 worlds