I’ve survived most of my life with humor. My sense of humor is kind of quirky, goofy, fast and it serves me well. I love making people laugh and I love how it can diffuse situations or energy that is headed in the wrong direction. I think I have always used humor as a dependable defense mechanism, and it is a practiced and reliable old friend.
It came in handy when dealing with my Mom. When we weren’t battling with each other we were making each other laugh. I was relieved when I made my Mom smile but overjoyed when I could make her laugh out loud. During her battle with dementia, I ended up trying harder and harder to make her laugh until the laughter slipped almost completely away. There was great sadness then, in the absence of laughter.
What I have come to realize is that my humor is not only a relief valve in my communication with others but also an extremely important release for me. I love and appreciate funny, silly slices of life. It brings me such joy to see things through silliness and fun. Every meme and ridiculous Tik Tok cat or dog post as well as wacky human behavior thrills me and makes me grateful and happy. All of it keeps me going and allows me to keep keeping on.
I’ve noticed that I’m not laughing as much these days, and lately, I am having a hard time seeing the humor. I’m just so tired and stressed about everything that I can’t find the funny anymore. And that’s just horrible.
So, I am now on a mission. I want my humor back. I want to be relaxed and think about the funny side of things again and stop taking everything so seriously. I’ve heard it said that my funny bone isn’t bone at all but a muscle. So, I’m going to start working it out. If you are like me and need to get your ROTFL (roll on the floor laughing) back, let’s try the following:
1. Find stuff you think is funny then dive into it.
Find TV shows, podcasts, comedies, movies, Tik Tok, or anything that makes you laugh. Search until you find something or go back to one of your old favorites. Treat it like homework. Take the time to find something to watch that takes you away for a while, loosens up those shoulders, and makes you throw your head back and laugh. Don’t tell me you don’t have time; get off Facebook or any other social media that makes you feel bad about yourself and watch a comedy instead.
2. Do Everything you can to see the humor in things.
Try to look at all this stuff that’s freaking you out and see the funny side. Life is funny. Caregiving has got to be a joke because you can’t make this stuff up! The more time we waste complaining and being resentful and feeling awful the worse we get. When we frame things with humor and laughter all the darkness goes away. Fight to find the funny.
3. Hang out with people who make you laugh out loud.
We all have people who make us laugh. They get us, they look at the world like we do and just enjoy laughing with us. Surround yourself with those people and if you haven’t been around them in a while pick the phone up and call them. They are the magic sauce that will break down the blues and get the LOL’s going again.
4. Do some self-care.
It’s harder to find the funny side when we are tired or hungry or stuck in a worry cycle. Do something nice for yourself like rest or eating something yummy or a hot bath or putting your favorite music on. Feeling better, in general, helps unlock the humor. Self-care is the balm that brings the ha-ha back.
When life feels like pins in the eyes, we must look at the cosmic irony and keep up the humor. It’s so much better to laugh than cry. I’m pledging right now to keep looking for the funny and I hope you will join me. Here’s to humor, laughs, and giggles, and building up our funny bone!
HPS Magazine 