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Renee’ Servello is the author of You’re Kidding I’m A Senior, a tell-all book about aging gracefully and laughing through life. It tells readers to live, love, laugh, and more.
I believe it was Shakespeare who said, in Macbeth, that life is “Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,/ Signifying nothing.” He probably hadn’t considered the power of laughter, though (which is ironic considering he was one of the best comic minds of his generation).
Laughing, while often an assumed act, holds a unique potency that elevates it from being just mere noise. As it turns out, laughter might just be the missing ingredient to making life good and bearable. Your giggles are the secret sauce that adds flavor to the blandness of life. Laughter is the solution to make yourself resilient, and it’s the answer to a monotonous journey. It’s when you live, love, laugh, and more that life becomes more bearable.
Living Life Through Loving Laughter
But wait, how can something as simple as laughter hold this kind of transformative power? Surprisingly, the answer is backed by science and sprinkled with a generous dose of human experience. So, if you’re going to follow up with the question: will laughter help me in life? The answer is a resounding yes.
Laughter helps with stress. Imagine life as a constant barrage of stress. Bills pile up, deadlines loom, and the news cycle spews negativity. It’s no wonder we often feel overwhelmed and anxious. Laughter, however, acts as a potent stress reliever. Laughing tickles the body into releasing endorphins. These are the chemicals that make you feel good. They counteract the stress caused by cortisol. This means that laughter actually translates to reduced anxiety, improved mood, and a more relaxed state of mind.
Laughter connects us with each other. Life is rarely a solo adventure. We thrive in connection, in communities where we feel understood and supported. Laughter acts as a social lubricant, fostering deeper bonds and easing communication. A shared laugh breaks down barriers, creates intimacy, and strengthens existing relationships. Whether it’s the guffaws you share with friends over inside jokes or the warm chuckles exchanged with a stranger about a silly mishap, laughter helps us belong. It tells us that we’re not alone in this strange, beautiful planet we call home.
Laughter makes us resilient. Life throws curveballs, stumbles us, and sometimes throws us down flat. Laughter, once again, steps up to the plate. By promoting optimism and fostering a sense of humor, laughter helps us reframe challenges, find the silver lining, and approach difficulties with a lighter heart. It allows us to laugh at ourselves, to acknowledge the absurdity of situations, and to move forward with newfound strength.
Live, Love, Laugh
While laughter seems like a natural reflex, sometimes life’s pressures can stifle it. Here are some ways to reignite the power of laughter in your life:
- Embrace humor. Seek out comedies, funny podcasts, or stand-up routines. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh and cultivate a playful, humorous outlook. Of course, be sure to avoid bad-faith humor.
- Practice gratitude. Focusing on the good things in your life, even the small ones, fosters a positive mindset that makes room for laughter.
- Lighten up. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Learn to laugh at your mistakes and the absurdities of life. Remember, perfection is an illusion, and laughter is the antidote.
- Spread the joy. Share your laughter with others. Tell a funny story, watch a comedy together, or simply smile at a stranger. You’ll be surprised how contagious laughter can be.
Laughter is not a magic bullet. It won’t solve all your problems or guarantee smooth sailing. But what it can do is provide a powerful tool to navigate life’s challenges, strengthen connections, and find joy in the ordinary moments.
So, open yourself to the healing effects of laughter, let it ring through your life, and see where it takes you. You might just find yourself on the path to a good life, one chuckle at a time.
Remember, a good life isn’t built on grand gestures or material possessions. It’s built on the small moments of joy, connection, and resilience. And laughter, my friend, is the key that unlocks them all. Live, love, laugh, and more!
You’re Kidding I’m A Senior by Renee’ Servello is available in all major online bookstores.
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