It’s a cruel, cruel world out there and it helps to lighten up every once in awhile. No matter how bad things get, you still have the free gift of laughter. No matter how bad your problems are, it doesn’t mean you can’t chuckle. Nothing should stop you from being happy. It’s a choice. You can choose to enjoy your life or to be miserable. The choice is up to you. It’s a great way to relieve tension. This is why comedy is such a powerful force in the world today. It gives people the chance to have a good time, regardless of circumstances. Unless, of course, you’re still choosing to be miserable at a comedy club.
I don’t care how bad your past was. You can make a better present by lightening up. And you can create a more enjoyable future by embracing the gift of laughter. You have the power. The only person who can take this power away from you is yourself. People even attest today that laughter is therapeutic. It can be used to cure people. Read Anatomy of an Illness by Norman Cousins. Check out Amazon or wherever you buy your books from. I’m not affiliated with any book vendors, so just check out books on the power of laughter. Lighten up because you can. It will make you feel good. And it’s not addictive, like the hard drugs some people do to make themselves feel good. But it is contagious. It’s a virus that can spread throughout a room. At least it’s better than all the other viruses out there.
You don’t even need a reason to laugh. You can just start laughing. Sometimes I find myself laughing for no reason and it’s perfectly okay. It’s a positive activity. You can even laugh at yourself. Laugh at what terrible fate has befallen upon you. It will relax you. It will empower you because it will raise your emotional state. Whatever you fancy, go ahead and take a good hard laugh about it. It’s a language we can all speak. You can even laugh at the mass extinction of all humans by an alien race that comes here to annhilate us. You can get a good laugh about the oncoming collapse of society or the impermanence of the universe. You can pretty much laugh at anything. So what’s stopping you from enjoying yourself?
I remember comedian Louis C.K. doing a joke about how poor he was. He said something like, “Have you ever been so broke it just becomes funny to you? You look at your bills and say, ‘I’m not paying this!’ The electric company calls and says they’re turning off the electricity. ‘Fuck it! Turn it off. I don’t give a shit.’” Here’s the link: Louis CK #2.
He also does this great bit there where he talks about how the bank is calling him because he had insufficient funds, only $20. And the bank charges him $15 dollars because he only has $20 in the bank. It’s basically a whole routine about being broke. He’s one of my favorite comedians because he is so brutally honest and doesn’ t hold back. I suggest you pick up his DVD Shameless. It’s so funny, it’s unbelievable. He is a bit on the swearing side. He uses foul language. But it doesn’t seem offensive when he does it. Just watch that clip and see if it makes you feel better than you do right now. I want you to see firsthand the amazing power of laughter.
Edit: He also does this amazing bit towards the end where his toilet is too close to the tub. Funny as hell. I really think you’ll enjoy him.
On a related note, I believe my video from NY is at the Post Office and I’m picking it up Monday. I’ll be able to put it on this site or at least link to it on Youtube. I’ll find out tomorrow what’s waiting at the PO for me, but I’m almost 100% sure it’s my tape. Look for it in the near future.
And just to give you something else from Louis, here’s Louis CK on Gay Marriage.