No matter how cheerful our disposition, everyone has days when they feel a bit down and the world around them seems to lose its sparkle and excitement. Fortunately, for most of us this is just a temporary setback and we soon return to our usual perky self.

Which funnily enough, brings us on to today's little story.

Many years ago a very unhappy middle aged man visited his doctor and told him, "Doctor, I'm suffering from a hopeless disease and I don't think you will be able to help me. I feel totally depressed by life, I have tried and I can't find happiness anywhere, nothing amuses me anymore and I have nothing to live for. If you tell me that you can't help, then I will kill myself." The doctor examined the man thoroughly but could find no physical illness and concluded that it was all in the mind. He told the man he needed a change of pace in his life and should consider taking a holiday, "You need to relax more, have a good laugh and then you will find some pleasure in your life."

"But where will I find this laughter?" asked the man. "I think I know the very place," replied the doctor. "Go to the circus tonight and see Grimaldi the clown, I'm sure he will make you laugh, I think he is one of the funniest men alive. I saw him myself a couple of nights ago and I am still laughing at the thought. Make an effort to go and see him, I think he will cure you and make you laugh again."

There was complete silence for the next few seconds as the sad faced man looked intently at the doctor, before replying, "But doctor you don't understand the full extent of my problem, you see I am Grimaldi the famous clown.