Laughter is a Great Medicine

I’ll never forget what happened to me a little less than four years ago.  It was late August, and I was on vacation in Myrtle Beach.  I ended up in the hospital undergoing two brain surgeries in three days because a tumor was pinching off one of my ventricles.  It was so sudden it was breathtaking.  I had never been in the hospital before and it was not a pleasant experience.  But I lived through it and much more trials after that.  I used humor to help me through my painful experience and I sure hope I can convince you of the benefits of laughter.

Upon returning home, I still had a tumor near my brainstem.  I would often feel very depressed as I would get extreme headaches all the time and be unable to focus my eyes whatsoever.  It was a very dismal state.  The surgeon in Providence, RI said he couldn’t do anything for me, so we decided to go to Boston, MA.  A doctor said she could take the tumor out and she did, at least most of it. We found out what it was and it was cancerous.  The good news was that it was curable via radiation.  Thirty days of radiation and I would be cured.  I was so happy.  I finally had the disease beaten.  And here’s why I didn’t succumb to suicide or depressing thoughts.

I began watching a show called Seinfeld because I didn’t feel good enough to do anything else except watch TV.  I thought the show was amazingly funny and I really felt it was the funniest thing I’d ever seen.  I laughed and laughed and laughed all throughout the months leading to my gigantic surgery in Boston, all through my radiation therapy, and afterwards as I was recovering and regrowing my hair back.  I began pursuing writing jokes myself and this became an obsession with me.  I saw the power that humor had.  I knew that without humor, something even more terrible would have happened to me.  And I committed my life to laughing and making other people laugh.  That is my mission. 

Sure, it will be nice if I become a famous comedian.  I’ll be living my dream and feeling fantastic.  I just owe humor so much of my life.  I even got to meet Jerry Seinfeld through the Make A Wish Foundation.  I want to do more, though.  I don’t just want to be a comedian.  I want to be someone who advocates laughter in everyday life.  I want to be someone who can cheer someone up from this cruel world from any kind of ailment they may be suffering from.  I feel that it is my responsibility.  Humor gave me a second chance and I will do my best to give that gift to the world.  It’s not just that I want to.  I need to.  I have to.  It’s not a choice.  It’s a mission.  And I invite you to embark on this mission with me.  Without laughter, the world would be a terrible place.

So I want you to go home today and just find something that makes you laugh.  Just do it.  It’s something that will let you forget about all your troubles and just think in a positive way.  That is why I feel that laughter is indeed a wonderful medicine.  It may not be the best medicine, but it sure doesn’t have any side effects, which is so rare today.  If you’ve learned anything from this post, having a sense of humor can be vital in certain situations, so don’t be afraid to let it out.  Until next time, laugh it up.