Easily the Best Medicine

So many of us search for the best antidote to stress. We try walks in the park, meditate, get massages, drink wine, etc.   But I think one of the simplest and, oft forgotten, ways to combat everyday stress is always right in front of us, lest we allow ourselves to experience it.

Recently, I was stuck on an airplane for 5 hours for what should have been a 1.5 hour flight.  We announced our departure, and zoomed out onto the runway, and just before takeoff, the plane came to a screeching halt.  The arrival airport had closed due to weather.   We would head back to the gate & wait for instruction.

After 90 minutes, we were advised that the airport had re-opened. Excellent.  My dinner plans pushed back a little, but I would still make it in time.  Sure enough, confident of our departure, the captain announced our plans for take-off.  Again, we zoomed off onto the runway, and again, just before takeoff, the plane came to a screeching halt.   By the time our number had come up for takeoff, the arrival airport had closed again!

Then we had to re-fuel despite having gone nowhere yet.  Next, the crew’s time limit had come so they had to be replaced.  Some two hours later, as were air bound, the pilots no doubt appreciated the applause at our momentous achievement of actually taking off.

After landing, the plane stood lingering at the periphery of the gate, almost at the promised land.   In comedic disbelief, the captain advised that the gate was parked with a truck, while, get this, they searched for the driver to find the keys.  At that point, the entire plane, a gathering of folks who now shared this absurdity of circumstances, erupted into a giant cacophony of laughter.  It was late.  We were tired but it was just too funny.

Thirty minutes later, at disembarkment, so many of us were smiling, laughing, because sometimes, there is nothing you can do…you are meant to laugh at some of life’s exasperating experiences!

Like the other night, my husband had been trying to sleep, and a parody of situations, one after another, would not allow it.   And somehow, I thought this was the funniest thing ever, probably because he did too, and had been recounting the entire episode as a Seinfeld parody.  I laughed out loud, a full-throated belly laugh, howling with tears in my eyes, that went on for about 20 minutes!

These situations made me realize that we all don’t laugh enough.  Sure, we chuckle here and there throughout our day.  Maybe a funny experience or watching a silly dog video but not that gut filling, I-can’t-stop-even-if-I-tried type of laughter that lifts you up!

But a good hearty belly laugh is so good for the soul!  It not only neutralizes all bad feelings.  It eviscerates the ability to take anything so seriously…including ourselves.   It provides the magical cure that we all need.

So, today, go search for it.  Go seek out this powerful remedy.  Laugh at joke, laugh at yourself, laugh at the world.  And hopefully, you will be given the gift of a delicious, unrestrained, can’t hold back type of laughter that will not only make your day but wipe out the entire week’s stress! ?