This is key: "wondering what it means, how it came to be this way, and whether there’s anything at all I can do to make a difference." And yes, laughter is the best medicine. A day without laughing out loud several times is not a day. I hadn't quite realized that I look for a good laugh every morning somewhere, whether a note from Tom Cox or a hilarious video on Instagram. Or maybe at the unbelievable ignorance and stupid of some people although that may be more sad than funny. I do what I can where I am with what I have to make a difference wherever I go, whatever I say and whatever I do to try and make the world a happier, healthier and loving place. That's enough for one day!
Thank you, Gary, for offering what you can to the world. It can be too easy, these days, to be consumed by negativity. The bright spots are still there, though, even if harder to see than we'd like some days. Always appreciate your perspective.
Absolutely love this writing today.... I laughed at the way you developed it and I laughed at your word choices.... I cannot count the times ..and many of them were on retreats like you attended with me... where something was so funny that I almost... YES.."peed" in my pants.... The sad part is it's hard to find something that funny anymore, because there are so many things that are so sad and frightening.... A snicker is about all I can muster these days...
Oh, such happy memories! I don't see anything wrong with tapping into old forms of comic relief (like the Carol Burnett Show clip I linked here -- that one still gets me!), whatever shape they take. That said, maybe we both would benefit from cultivating comedy in our lives. It sure does feel good to laugh out loud! Let's work on that together, shall we?
When I was a teenager and my extended family was gathered because my beloved grandpa had suddenly died, only two months after my great uncle had, I was furious about the way the women around me kept telling jokes and laughing. I sputtered about it to my dad (related to them only through marriage to my mom) who explained that it was their way of coping, that they had to laugh or the crying would consume them and they wouldn't be able to keep going. That hard summer was 43 years ago, but I think about that conversation often. Two of my cousins are visiting this week, and we spent last night laughing our heads off, even though each of us is navigating heart-breaking personal stuff while living through whatever this is that's happening to our country. It truly felt like medicine, and I have such a deeper underunderstanding of the women who came before us.
Rita, I'm something like the women of your past, apt to find humor even when others might find it inappropriate. I almost shared a photo of my parents with this post in which both are clearly belly laughing. Suffice to say, I grew up that way. While I'm sorry for the heart-break in your life, and wish I could do more to help lift that burden, I am THRILLED to know that you and your cousins were able to find the funny last night. Also grateful that you've shared these thoughts here. I appreciate your perspective.
When I was a kid, I always read the copies of Reader's Digest I found at my grandmother's house. The first section I turned to, every time, was "Laughter is the Best Medicine."
The best medicine indeed. When nothing makes sense or is too big or too small.... finding the laughter (and allowing it) can much such a difference. Loved the stringing of the proverbs... it's amazing how they hold together that way!
The proverbs! Thanks for noting that in particular, Amy. Interestingly, there were quite a few iterations of this poem with adages that ended up getting replaced by others. All that to say, it could have held together quite differently had I followed through on those ideas. :)
Thanks for reading and commenting. Allowing laughter is a worthy goal, isn't it?
Husband and I roared with laughter the other night. I took a video of the Terrier fast asleep as everything twitched. Nose, eyelids, ears, paws - it went on and on and then the rippingest fart emerged. We just couldn't contain ourselves.
So yes, let's all laugh; it has great power.
PS: Look up Tom Read Wilson on Instagram. He is the consummate communicator on all things language and is often drily risque and angelic in the process. My daughter and I adore him.
Hahaha!!! Bodily functions for the win! You'll have to find a way to share the video with me sometime. 🤣
I've long felt that comedians are among our most important practitioners. The good ones bring us into community around humor often conveying important social messages at the same time. It's good for what ails us!
I just breezed through some of Tom's content which looks like it will strike my linguistic (etymologic?) funny bone in just the right way. Thanks so much for the recommendation!
Oh, Rona, right? Good man, that one! A sense of humor isn't everything, of course, but it's at the top of the list of critical needs for me. It is a rare day here that doesn't include at least a little laughter, often as a way of easing a tense moment. I grew up in a funny family and married a man who has helped carry that forward. Lucky me! Us!
Sometimes laughter erupts when grief is profound. When we were spreading my Mom's ashes, my sister said she had brought a wooden spoon from Mom's kitchen to scoop the c remains from the beautiful little box my brother had made. The only problem was, she brought the SLOTTED wooden spoon...we laughed, guffawed, cried, then ate a Werther's Butterscotch in her honor.
Susan!! Oh my goodness, I'm so glad you all could laugh at that. Surely your mother was laughing, too. Maybe she orchestrated it? Thank you for sharing such a delightful memory and for being part of this community.
I was told that my laugh was to loud so I stopped laughing out loud. It took a while, but I've learned to laugh freely again. It's definitely important to laugh and smile especially when it's dark outside. Lovely post!
Ayesha -- Not only do I come from a family of people who laugh a lot, we've all been told at some time or other that we are loud...too loud, is the inference. I'm so relieved to know you've found your way back to laughing freely again. Life itself is found in that!
Thank the universe for laughter! Elizabeth, this brought back a memory of my own moving when a friend and I were lugging a mattress and both nearly peed our pants with the hilarity of something or other. Who knows what!
I’m unspeakably grateful for friendships and loves and connections of all sorts where laughter is abundant.
Thank you for this lovely dose of good medicine. :)
Holly, I apologize for missing this comment earlier and thank you for making time to read and respond. I've been on a bit of a joy-theme the last few posts. Needed to fill my tank! :)
This is key: "wondering what it means, how it came to be this way, and whether there’s anything at all I can do to make a difference." And yes, laughter is the best medicine. A day without laughing out loud several times is not a day. I hadn't quite realized that I look for a good laugh every morning somewhere, whether a note from Tom Cox or a hilarious video on Instagram. Or maybe at the unbelievable ignorance and stupid of some people although that may be more sad than funny. I do what I can where I am with what I have to make a difference wherever I go, whatever I say and whatever I do to try and make the world a happier, healthier and loving place. That's enough for one day!
Thank you, Gary, for offering what you can to the world. It can be too easy, these days, to be consumed by negativity. The bright spots are still there, though, even if harder to see than we'd like some days. Always appreciate your perspective.
Absolutely love this writing today.... I laughed at the way you developed it and I laughed at your word choices.... I cannot count the times ..and many of them were on retreats like you attended with me... where something was so funny that I almost... YES.."peed" in my pants.... The sad part is it's hard to find something that funny anymore, because there are so many things that are so sad and frightening.... A snicker is about all I can muster these days...
Oh, such happy memories! I don't see anything wrong with tapping into old forms of comic relief (like the Carol Burnett Show clip I linked here -- that one still gets me!), whatever shape they take. That said, maybe we both would benefit from cultivating comedy in our lives. It sure does feel good to laugh out loud! Let's work on that together, shall we?
When I was a teenager and my extended family was gathered because my beloved grandpa had suddenly died, only two months after my great uncle had, I was furious about the way the women around me kept telling jokes and laughing. I sputtered about it to my dad (related to them only through marriage to my mom) who explained that it was their way of coping, that they had to laugh or the crying would consume them and they wouldn't be able to keep going. That hard summer was 43 years ago, but I think about that conversation often. Two of my cousins are visiting this week, and we spent last night laughing our heads off, even though each of us is navigating heart-breaking personal stuff while living through whatever this is that's happening to our country. It truly felt like medicine, and I have such a deeper underunderstanding of the women who came before us.
Rita, I'm something like the women of your past, apt to find humor even when others might find it inappropriate. I almost shared a photo of my parents with this post in which both are clearly belly laughing. Suffice to say, I grew up that way. While I'm sorry for the heart-break in your life, and wish I could do more to help lift that burden, I am THRILLED to know that you and your cousins were able to find the funny last night. Also grateful that you've shared these thoughts here. I appreciate your perspective.
When I was a kid, I always read the copies of Reader's Digest I found at my grandmother's house. The first section I turned to, every time, was "Laughter is the Best Medicine."
Great, uplifting stuff, Elizabeth!
Yes, Don. The Reader's Digest of old had a way of making everything make more sense and feel lighter. Thanks so much for adding that reminder here.
The best medicine indeed. When nothing makes sense or is too big or too small.... finding the laughter (and allowing it) can much such a difference. Loved the stringing of the proverbs... it's amazing how they hold together that way!
The proverbs! Thanks for noting that in particular, Amy. Interestingly, there were quite a few iterations of this poem with adages that ended up getting replaced by others. All that to say, it could have held together quite differently had I followed through on those ideas. :)
Thanks for reading and commenting. Allowing laughter is a worthy goal, isn't it?
Yup. If we don't laugh we cry.
Husband and I roared with laughter the other night. I took a video of the Terrier fast asleep as everything twitched. Nose, eyelids, ears, paws - it went on and on and then the rippingest fart emerged. We just couldn't contain ourselves.
So yes, let's all laugh; it has great power.
PS: Look up Tom Read Wilson on Instagram. He is the consummate communicator on all things language and is often drily risque and angelic in the process. My daughter and I adore him.
Hahaha!!! Bodily functions for the win! You'll have to find a way to share the video with me sometime. 🤣
I've long felt that comedians are among our most important practitioners. The good ones bring us into community around humor often conveying important social messages at the same time. It's good for what ails us!
I just breezed through some of Tom's content which looks like it will strike my linguistic (etymologic?) funny bone in just the right way. Thanks so much for the recommendation!
The ability to laugh is everything. It has kept me married for more than 50 years to a man with a sense of humor.
Oh, Rona, right? Good man, that one! A sense of humor isn't everything, of course, but it's at the top of the list of critical needs for me. It is a rare day here that doesn't include at least a little laughter, often as a way of easing a tense moment. I grew up in a funny family and married a man who has helped carry that forward. Lucky me! Us!
Sometimes laughter erupts when grief is profound. When we were spreading my Mom's ashes, my sister said she had brought a wooden spoon from Mom's kitchen to scoop the c remains from the beautiful little box my brother had made. The only problem was, she brought the SLOTTED wooden spoon...we laughed, guffawed, cried, then ate a Werther's Butterscotch in her honor.
Susan!! Oh my goodness, I'm so glad you all could laugh at that. Surely your mother was laughing, too. Maybe she orchestrated it? Thank you for sharing such a delightful memory and for being part of this community.
I was told that my laugh was to loud so I stopped laughing out loud. It took a while, but I've learned to laugh freely again. It's definitely important to laugh and smile especially when it's dark outside. Lovely post!
Ayesha -- Not only do I come from a family of people who laugh a lot, we've all been told at some time or other that we are loud...too loud, is the inference. I'm so relieved to know you've found your way back to laughing freely again. Life itself is found in that!
You're kind. Thanks!
Thank the universe for laughter! Elizabeth, this brought back a memory of my own moving when a friend and I were lugging a mattress and both nearly peed our pants with the hilarity of something or other. Who knows what!
I’m unspeakably grateful for friendships and loves and connections of all sorts where laughter is abundant.
Thank you for this lovely dose of good medicine. :)
Holly, I apologize for missing this comment earlier and thank you for making time to read and respond. I've been on a bit of a joy-theme the last few posts. Needed to fill my tank! :)
Yassss! I love this.
No need ever to apologize for missing the comment. ;) We get to things when we get to them. 🥰