Laughter Is The Best Medicine

“Laughter is the shortage distance between two people”-Victor Borge

Like too many parents, I was living in survival mode; simply trying to get from point A to point B without falling apart. Without knowing and recognizing, our lives can become so mundane and robotic.

The first time I felt nudged to mix up the day in/day out routine that had become my life was when my best friend, Alberta invited me to a comedy show. She had started doing stand-up comedy about a year prior and since becoming married, having kids, operating a business, there seemed little time for much else in my life, so I declined her invitation, as I had done in the past. A few days later my kids and I watched a movie, Yes Day. In this movie Jennifer Garner and Edgar Ramirez play parents to 3 children and albeit reluctantly at first, agree to 24 hours of saying yes to the children’s every request.

Not ready to relinquish that kind of control to my kids just yet, the concept of letting my guard down and just saying yes to my own request and desires was something worth exploring.  I realized that I had passed on too many opportunities to take care of me. Passed on opportunities to bring play and fun back into my life.  I had allowed the kids and what I had going on become an excuse and in turn, if I’m honest, slightly resent it all for it.  

Full transparency, some of the hesitation to go outside my normal routine was my own doing. I consider myself an introvert and sometimes the idea of socializing is more than I want to give. Thus, I suppose some of the resent I will reserve for myself. I had been praying to God to push me, help me find a restore joy and confidence into my life. So, I decided I would go, laugh, and have fun. I vowed the next time she invited me to a show, I would say yes, no matter what.  

Well. I don’t even have to tell you how God works. Alberta called the following week, “Hey Dawg! I am hosting a room in Arlington, and I need someone at the door that I can trust. Would you do it?” Without completely hearing her full request, I said, “Yes!” She thanked me and told me she would call me back. She had to finalize some business, needed to take the other line, and she’d call me later tonight.

All the introverts reading this know what I am about to say and can feel my pain. I was low key panicked. What have I gotten myself into. Not only do I have to socialize, but I have also agreed to be the first person that greets everyone as they are coming in. What I meant and wanted to say yes to, was being invited to come out and just be a spectator in the audience. I would come in like a cat, quiet and unnoticed, watch from the back, wait for her in the shadows afterwards, hug her, tell her great job, and be back home before anyone knew the difference. 

I have always felt that laughter is the best medicine. I like to think I have a wonderful sense of humor; I love joking around. I recognized that with the feeling of sadness and uncertainty that was upon me, I knew I needed to overindulge myself with laughter. I listened to uplifting music, I avoided Debbie Downers, if I watched television there were only 3 acceptable genres: children’s show, game shows, or comedies. I was only interested in consuming joy. That first night out was so refreshing, much needed, and overdue. The food was good, DJ was jamming, I got to spend some time with one of my favorite people in the world, and of course I laughed.

What was intended to be one night turned into my weekly outing. I began to feel light again. As my grandmother says, “It has been scientifically proven…” laughter relieves stress, enhances our mental health, soothes tension, stimulates many organs, increases personal satisfaction and more. It would be just what the doctor ordered to stimulate and add a dose of quality of life to my life.  Seeing Alberta host/perform as well as the weekly lineup of comics was very inspiring. Their ability to be honest and raw sometimes exposing their pain but dressing it up with laughter is amazing to me. I would watch them and think there is no way in hell I would get on that stage in front of these people and try to make them laugh while they all just stare at me. I am thankful for their courage to do so because I needed to hear it.  

 Being around comedy in this way came with an added bonus. My own interest was peaked so when the opportunity to take a sketch writing class at Stomping Ground Comedy Theater came up I could not pass it. This was the season of Yes! so with pen and pad I was off.  The course would involve a showcase at the end of the session. People would pay to come see me try to be funny from my own writings.

What was I thinking. Secretly I knew this was in line with something I had always wanted to do, but to now be doing it was a little scary. However, I loved every second of this class. The thrill of trying something new, challenging myself, opening myself up to be judged was a spark I needed in my life. To bond with people from all walks of life, that honestly, I may have never connected with had we not been in this space together. It had been a long time since I was around such camaraderie. Everyone exposed, trying something new, slightly nervous, slightly embarrassed, but pushing themselves and one another.  I surprised myself throughout that 8-week course.

I was selected to perform 2 of my sketches at the showcase. My husband, aunt, and brothers came to the showcase to support and were surprised that was me up there performing what I had written. This experience would lead me back to writing, something I enjoyed tremendously as a young child and was rediscovering as an adult.  

I am so thankful for my Yes Day; I have more and more of those days now. Finding the humor in a situation. Finding and creating a reason to laugh, if for no other reason, than to keep from crying is a top priority. We are all going through our trials and tribulations as we walk through life. What I found to be a great way to heal my soul is a daily dose of laughter.