Welcome, my eager reader, and a happy new 2019 to you!
Have you thought of what you wanted to focus on this year? I have. I want to create more humor in my life. I think I've got a handle on intensity, and I already have a black belt on seriousness. But I'd love to master humor, wit, and laughter most of all.
Read on for some more of my reflections on humor.
Humor’s Role in Creating Happiness
Humor is like peanut butter and jelly on the bread of life. With it, life can still stick in your throat, but at least it tastes a lot better when stuck.
As a kid, my brother and I would do our school work at a round dining room table. If the work got super stressful, we'd take a break and follow each other around the table, walking like penguins, and pause after every few steps to yelp "help!" in high, squeaky voices. It never failed to end in laughter. Try it sometime!
Then, when I was in medical school, worms came to my rescue. Yes, worms. One day, I was slouching my way back to the Medical Towers where I lived, feeling glum about yet another exam, and there, on the concrete, lay a poor worm after rain, drying under the sun. Picking it up and throwing it back on the grass made me feel pretty good about myself. Plus, the worm taught me that life could be worse: at least I'm not a worm drying on the sidewalk.
A few decades later, I was in the van with my daughter after she took a difficult exam to get into the International Baccalaureate program at Richard Montgomery High School. She despaired over her performance and was near tears. Worms saved us again. I told her that the IB program only wanted worms for their program, as I mimicked voices of different animals saying, "I'm a worm! I'm a worm!" We laughed as I reassured her that she'd get in because she was a true worm. (And, she did.)
Remember the Boggart-banishing spell "Riddikulus" that made fears transform into something laughably ridiculous? That's what humor does to our worst fears. It can be our shield, weapon, support, and gift. Like those Hogwarts students, we can choose to practice using humor to transform our fears and worries.
Comedians are masters at this kind of magic. Against political craziness, I have Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers, the comedic trinity. They stand between me and a state of incredulous indignation. Smart, insightful, bold, and funny their monologues shield me under the bright colored umbrella of humor. Life is so much better with humor and laughter that I think it would be a great goal for me to write at least one funny thing in each of my newsletters for 2019. I hope it'll bring a smile to your face when you find it.
Creating more humor in your life takes practice, but it'll be worth the effort. I hope that you'll be able to find the funny in life this week!