I laughed (hard) today.

I laughed and laughed and laughed (hard) today – all over the same thing; all with the same person.

There’s a reason the cliche exists: Laughter is the best medicine. I wasn’t feeling sick, but somehow the unrestrained, out-of-control, wipe-the-tears-away experience made me feel stronger, healthier, balanced, whole, and well.

I don’t often think about it – laughter; but when it’s juxtaposed to the day-in, day-out realities of my life, I realize its beauty and power. Without even being aware of such, I can take everything so seriously. Even if most of the time I find myself more grateful than not, more blessed than cursed, more full than empty, I can still become consumed with tedium, detail, and routine.

Laughter breaks me out of confinement (known or not) and into spaciousness. It is like a deep breath of fresh air, a sip of delicious wine, a whiff of seductive aftershave, a sunset in the rearview mirror, an unexpected and unmerited hug from one of my kids. It’s all good.

I got a lot of good today.

That is the best – to laugh with someone because you both think the same things are funny.

(Gloria Vanderbilt)

Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.

(Mark Twain)

If every word I said could make you laugh, I’d talk forever…

(Unknown)

As I think about how to end this post I can feel the lure to make it deeply meaningful, poignant, provocative. But I’m still grinning, still laughing under my breath, and every once-in-a-while giggling again for no reason (while simultaneously humming Alanis Morissette’s song by the same title). That’s meaningful, poignant, and provocative enough…for today.

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