Many years ago, I read the story of Norman Cousins, who was diagnosed with a serious illness and given a very limited chance of recovery. Instead of accepting that prognosis as his destiny, he embarked on an unusual experiment. He immersed himself in old comedy movies and looked for every opportunity to laugh. While many factors contributed to his recovery, Cousins believed laughter played a significant role in his healing. He famously wrote,
"Ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep."
His experience helped inspire further research into the connection between laughter, stress, and healing. Whether you believe laughter can heal the body or not, there is growing evidence that it positively affects our nervous system, immune system, emotional well-being, and even our relationships. Laughter lowers stress hormones, releases endorphins, improves mood, strengthens social bonds, and reminds us—if only for a moment—that life is more than our worries.
I believe laughter is one of the most natural expressions of our True Nature.
Before we learned to worry about our image, our reputation, our accomplishments, our mistakes, or what other people thought of us, we laughed easily. Children laugh hundreds of times a day. They laugh at themselves, at each other, at things that make no sense, and sometimes simply because someone else is laughing.
Somewhere along the way, many of us became way too serious.
- Serious about our responsibilities.
- Serious about our problems.
- Serious about our opinions.
- Serious about our identities.
Over the past decade or so, many people have also become more cautious about humor. Jokes, satire, and even laughing at ourselves can sometimes feel risky. Whether because of public criticism, social media, or the fear of being misunderstood, many of us have become careful about what we laugh at—and sometimes whether we laugh at all.
This article isn't about that.
It's an invitation to rediscover something we've always possessed: the ability to smile, to laugh, and to experience joy—not at someone else's expense, but with one another and sometimes even at ourselves.
Perhaps the healthiest humor is the kind that doesn't diminish another person but reminds us that we are all wonderfully imperfect human beings.
Sometimes what we need isn't another self-help book, another productivity tool, or another item on our to-do list.
Maybe what we need is a really good laugh.
The kind that sneaks up on you.
The kind that brings tears to your eyes.
The kind that makes your stomach hurt.
The kind that leaves you wondering why something so wonderfully ridiculous is so funny.
The last time I laughed out loud was when I saw this:
If you've been carrying the weight of the world lately, perhaps today is a good day to intentionally seek out something that makes you smile.
- Watch an old comedy.
- Call the friend who always makes you laugh.
- Spend time with a child.
- Laugh at one of your own harmless mistakes.
Life will still be serious tomorrow.
But today, maybe give yourself permission to remember that joy is not a distraction from life.
It is a necessary part of a healthy life.
After all, one of the greatest gifts we can offer ourselves—and each other—is the freedom to laugh.
If you have a humorous joke or story, send it to me at andre@andresalvage.com.
See you next month on August 5th for our monthly discussions.
André
