Humor

The following is a repeat of a post from March 2020. And I posted it right smack dab in the middle of the beginning of COVID 19 shutdowns. I think about that time and realize that yes, humor did get us through that very dark period. And it still gets us through today.

I recently had our family of four take the VIA Character Strengths test as that is what I’m studying in my ADHD Coaching program right now. And wouldn’t you know it – humor ranked somewhere in the top five for all of us. (It was number one for my husband, which if you know him, explains a lot!). As I mention below, humor cleanses the soul and allows us to reset our internal narrative. If you haven’t laughed recently, give it a try. I guarantee that it will make you feel better.

So we’re living in a different world. Removed from society, stuck at home. Everyday many of us wondering, is today the day I get it? Is today the day one of our loved ones gets it? For the first time in almost all of our lives, our individual freedom has been changed to protect others and ourselves. How do we keep ourselves from overwhelming anxiety and fear? How do we keep this to ourselves and not thrust it upon our loved ones?

Humor. Laughter. Find levity in living this new temporary life. Fear and anxiety feeds fear and anxiety. This is especially true of my life with Ryan. If I am out of my mind with fear and anxiety, so is Ryan. Ever since he was little this has been the case. Even in the normal everyday life our family has tried to find humor in just about everything we do. It’s much better than screaming, crying and watching endless news reports.

Laughter cleanses the soul in a way nothing else can. Crying can cleanse the soul, but it leaves you exhausted. Laughter has the opposite effect. It lifts you up and brings energy and joy.

My family already has made humor an everyday practice. We’ve always looked for funny and ridiculous things to share with each other. We watch stupid silly movies. We play board and card games. We are so well versed, that through this coronavirus epidemic we are able to pull out our tools of humor. We try to find something to giggle about after we rehash the days news. Sometimes it’s as simple as talking about something funny the dog did.

I know there are difficult days ahead with Ryan being back home and taking all of his courses online. I know we will all be driving each other a little nuts being around each other so much, day in and day out. I need to remember in these times to look for something that I can laugh about. Even if it’s just to laugh at the absurdity of it all!

“Laugh as much as possible, always laugh. It’s the sweetest thing one can do for oneself and one’s fellow human beings.” -Maya Angelou

“A sense of humor is the one thing no one will admit to not having.” – Mark TWain