Laughter is good for the soul. It’s certainly a cliche, but it’s true. (And here… and here… and here too.) Laughter relaxes muscles, releases endorphins, boosts your immune system, improves blood flow, reduces blood pressure, and helps bond you to others. Think about the last time you really, truly laughed – for me, it was ten minutes ago, joking around with my roommates, who have been my best friends since freshman year. Didn’t you feel great afterwards?
Life is far too serious these days. We spend years trying so desperately to find “the right thing” to do, afraid of failing, trying so hard to succeed. We get caught up in this path that we think will ensure us success: work hard in high school, work harder in college, have the most impressive resume, get a job right away. And yet, statistically speaking, that will leave many of us unfulfilled. This list of the most common regrets on the deathbed says most of us will regret not living a life true to what we really wanted, will regret working so hard, will regret not being happier.
The most beautiful ship in the whole world... The pot of gold at the end of my rainbow!
You know, deep down, what will make you happy. Regardless of what my classmates are doing, I’m taking a few months to goof off, live in Australia for a year, and then run around Asia some more. I do this because I know that even if it’s not what the CDC recommends, it’s what I want. I know I’ll be truly, deeply happy. We have to trust ourselves more. The only way to be happy is to do what you really want, not necessarily what your parents want, not necessarily what your friends are doing. So lighten up. Laugh some more. Laugh a lot more. Get some perspective in your life! Know what really matters, and pursue that. You’ll be a lot happier, and the world will be a better place.
Cailtin, I love the message here and applaud you for your post-graduate pursuits abroad. I agree that laughter lifts the soul. Check out this video that Dana and I love:
/saturday-night-live-super-showcase
Posted by JOEY MARTIN | April 24, 2012, 12:09 amCaitlin… I agree with Joey and love your post… Joey I can believe you actually posted this video… people are going to think we are crazier then we actually are. I think the key to laughter is surrounding yourself with the best people. For example, out of all my years at Bucknell.. I have probably laughed the most and hardest this year. Living with my five best friends and having lunch with Joey practically everything meant an endless supply of stories and laughter. Even though I will cling dearly to these friendship post-graduation, I know that when I form new relationships in the future, I will definitely look for compatibility and humor in them.
Posted by Dana Silverstein | April 24, 2012, 8:48 amI love laughing, I even got kicked out of seventh grade chemistry class because I couldn’t stop laughing. I also made my little sister pee her pants four times from laughing so much. It also is great because it is a work out for your abs…which I probably need since I never go to the gym. I avoid people who don’t laugh, so if people laugh more than they will probably have more friends. PS I want to go to Australia for the year
Posted by Catherine Gibbons | April 24, 2012, 12:52 pmWhat if I am laughing AT someone instead of WITH them… I wonder if all the har har research accounts for those differences.
Good for you for taking off after school. But, how much do debt loads of graduates affect that freedom? See my post to make it more possible, Turning Student Debt into Opportunity.
Posted by Jordi | April 25, 2012, 9:07 am