Laughter is good medicine
TO enjoy life – that’s a mantra many hope to fulfill. It is not just about having good health, good friends or a loving family. You get much more if you learn to laugh at yourself, and with others, of course, who provide jolly good company.
It has been said, “A week without laughter makes one weak.” You can choose the company you wish to keep, outside meetings and other serious matters. Yes, you can choose to be with good-humoured folk who share interesting tales among themselves, or allow yourself to be stuck with some who have their own monologues. You can decide not to attend certain functions where you might be awkward with some characters – better to be alone than with bad company, right? Of course, there are times you really have no choice (hopefully, rarely).
We did not choose to be born the way we are – our looks, social status, disabled or different. But look around you (or read about them) and see that the underprivileged are handling what life has thrown at them from the beginning. There are plenty of inspirational stories of how they have risen above their misfortunes. And look at their smiles that shine with tenacity and achievements of their own. Some put us to shame at how lazily we have been looking after ourselves ...
As senior citizens, some of us have slowed down – with arthritis, knee replacements, poorer eyesight, heart conditions, etc – but the drive is still there.
Recently, I was among 60 former collegemates – who had trained in Kirkby College, England – at a reunion in Taiping. Some came with spouses or children and grandchildren. A few came from overseas. Some were mobile, with canes or in wheelchairs. You should have seen them with their broad smiles or bursting with laughter every now and then!
The joy of sharing old (and new) stories with each other has been, for many of us, a precious bond that has lasted through the years – from different batches that were privileged to be there from 1952-1962. Besides the biennial reunions (and, from now, annually), we also hold regular hi-tea get-togethers in the Klang Valley.
So here we were, able to laugh and share stories together again. A few of us are nearly 80 years old, with many already well beyond that. By the way, age is just a word, you know.
We realise there can be sadness behind a smile, anxiety behind an angry outburst, or shyness behind the silence. But when you are in a group that has positive vibes, you get caught up in the wave of goodwill and forbearance, and it makes your day!
The best laughter comes from people’s open confessions of their own foibles – frustrating at that time but having a good laugh from it after that. Incidents like searching for the missing pair of glasses resting on your head; or going into a room and then wondering why you went there! And more embarrassing ones, like that morning when my cousin in his bathroom put hair cream on his toothbrush. (Warning: do not put these similar-looking tubes next to each other!) Or at a big family gathering during a festival, where my husband was hurriedly preparing a popiah for himself on a plate – then when he was ready to roll it up, there was no popiah skin!
There’s no end to the episodes of forgetfulness but hopefully we do not end up hurting anyone.
Yes, life is serious business but do go out and have fun with some good-humoured company. Who was it who said an apple a day keeps the doctor away? I think a laugh a day might keep the doctor away!