Out of all of the things there are to believe in, the fundamental thing that I value the most and hold onto in episodes of tribulation is humor, or at least the ability to laugh at life’s absurdities. My mode of existence is rooted in humor in that humor is ingrained in my functioning to the point where I consider humor to be more genuine and sincere than non-humor. Sure, I may at times use it as a defense mechanism when I want to hide from the truth and/or my emotions, but even so, the times when I laugh and joke around is when my most profound feelings about life come out.

Everyone feels humor differently, and some may not even find much joy in laughter. But for me, it is more than a source of joy and personal satisfaction. It is a source of comfort and great alleviation because ultimately, humor is a necessary tool for connection, reflection, and simply being (or at least, in my opinion). Without laughter, what’s to remind me I’m alive?

The humor that comes from suffering, pain, and alienation is really what I’m referring to here. For it is in this expression where we find so much truth around the absurdity of life and form connections towards others. The best way to deal with difficulties for me is to joke about them because being reminded of the ridiculousness of our tragedies makes them seem so utterly insignificant. Of course, in this way, humor serves as a coping mechanism. It’s useful because it releases tension. All of my horrible days are made better through humor. For example, on days when it seems unbearable to face the demands of life, I’ll watch my favorite tv comedies and be immediately comforted through laughter. It’s healing. However, despite humor’s tremendous healing ability, what I find even more spectacular is using humor as a way to connect with others. We use humor to convey messages, thoughts and feelings. It’s a tool that helps us be the most human that we can be, and I think that’s incredible.

I suppose what I’m trying to say in all of this is what Frida Kahlo has already said in three sentences. “Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light. Tragedy is the most ridiculous thing.”