Making the case for laughter

Why I’ve started taking joy seriously

Somewhere between the breaking news alerts, the health goals, and the constant pressure to keep improving, I realized I had forgotten how to laugh.

Not the polite kind that fills silence, but the real kind that sneaks up on you and leaves you doubled over, breathless, and lighter for hours afterward. The kind that makes you feel fully alive.

For a long time, I treated laughter as something extra. It was a byproduct of a good mood or a lucky day. But lately, I’ve started to see it differently. Laughter isn’t a distraction from life. It’s a way back into it.

What I’ve learned about laughter

Science confirms what we have always known deep down. Laughter lowers stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. It also increases dopamine, endorphins, and oxygen flow to the brain.

A study from Loma Linda University found that even anticipating laughter lowered stress hormone levels by nearly 40 percent. Another study from the Mayo Clinic showed that regular laughter supports better blood flow and a stronger immune system.

So no, “laughter is the best medicine” is not just something your grandmother said. It is biology.

But more than that, laughter gives perspective. It creates space between us and our worries, a moment to breathe and reset. It reminds me that while I cannot control everything, I can always choose how I respond to it.

Relearning the lightness

At some point, I started to believe that joy had to be earned. I thought I needed to finish the list, meet the goals, and prove something before I could relax.

I became fluent in control but clumsy in joy.

What laughter does is interrupt that pattern. It breaks tension, softens ego, and gives me permission to be imperfect for a moment. It does not erase the hard things, but it changes how I carry them.

Maybe that is what this stage of life is really about. It is not about mastering everything. It is about learning to live through it with curiosity, perspective, and humor.

Why it matters more now

By the time you reach your fifties, you know that life rarely goes according to plan. But that is also where the beauty lies. Laughter has become my reminder that joy and resilience often share the same breath.

We have all lived long enough to know that laughter is not denial. It is renewal. It brings us back to ourselves and reminds us that lightness and depth can coexist.

When the world feels too serious, I try to laugh anyway. When things get heavy, I look for the small moments of absurdity. Humor is not about pretending everything is fine. It is about remembering that I still am.

My five-day laugh challenge

If it has been a while since you laughed just because, here is a simple reset. There are no apps, no trackers, and no goals. Just five small prompts to help you reconnect with lightness.

1. Monday: Find something that makes you laugh, whether it is a video, a memory, or a ridiculous story.
2. Tuesday: Share it with someone you know. Humor grows when it is shared.
3. Wednesday: Listen to a comedy podcast or watch a funny clip while you walk or cook dinner.
4. Thursday: Tell a story about something that went wrong and laugh about it instead of overthinking it.
5. Friday: End the week with a “group laugh.” Call the friend who always makes you lose it.

By Friday, you will feel the difference. The world will not have changed, but your energy will.

The reminder I keep coming back to

Laughter is not an escape from reality. It is a return to it.

It helps me rediscover lightness, connection, and the simple truth that joy is still possible no matter what age I am or what the week brings.

Stay curious. Live boldly. Laugh often.