Laughing Our Way Through the Golden Years: Why Humor Might Be the Best Medicine Medicare Doesn't Cover

Getting older comes with wrinkles, creaky joints, questionable memory, and an alarming number of doctor's appointments. But what if one of the best things we can do for our physical and mental health doesn't require a prescription, a gym membership, or another lecture about eating more vegetables? Welcome to the wonderfully ridiculous world of laughter, where the side effects might include happiness, stronger friendships, and occasionally needing to change your underwear.

Aging Gracefully? I'd Rather Age Laughing

I've come to a rather inconvenient conclusion about getting older: Mother Nature has an absolutely terrible sense of customer service.

Think about it. We spend decades working, paying taxes, raising families, following rules, and occasionally pretending to understand how our retirement accounts work. Then, just when we're supposed to enjoy the rewards of all that effort, our bodies start behaving like appliances whose warranties expired fifteen years ago.

My knees suddenly have opinions about stairs. My back apparently requires advance notice before I pick something up. And getting out of a comfortable chair can occasionally involve sound effects that would make a professional weightlifter nervous.

Meanwhile, society keeps telling us to age gracefully.

Gracefully?

I'd be thrilled to age without making noises every time I stand up.

And don't get me started on the phrase "golden years." Whoever invented that expression clearly never received a medical bill or spent twenty minutes looking for reading glasses that were sitting on top of their head.

But here's what I've discovered while exploring the science of aging: one of the most enjoyable ways to improve our emotional well-being, manage stress, and stay connected with others is something we've been doing since childhood.

Laughing.

Yes, laughing.

That ridiculous noise we make when something strikes us as funny may offer genuine health benefits, particularly as we grow older.

And unlike practically everything else marketed to seniors, laughter doesn't require an enrollment period, a monthly subscription, or a cheerful salesperson explaining why we're missing out on benefits we never knew existed.

Better yet, nobody has figured out how to charge us for every chuckle.

Give the insurance companies time.

Laughter: The Cheapest Stress Management Program on Earth

Let's begin with stress, because apparently getting older doesn't mean we stop worrying. It simply means we discover an entirely new collection of things to worry about.

Retirement savings. Healthcare expenses. Family problems. Rising grocery prices. Whether the mysterious noise coming from the refrigerator means we're about to spend another $1,200.

And, of course, the ongoing mystery of why every company insists we download an app just to accomplish something that used to require speaking to another human being.

Stress can take a toll on our physical and mental health. Chronic stress can contribute to sleep problems, anxiety, muscle tension, and other health concerns.

Fortunately, laughter appears to help regulate our response to stress.

According to the Mayo Clinic, laughing can temporarily stimulate the body's stress response and then help calm it down. It may also encourage muscle relaxation and reduce feelings of tension.

In other words, laughter can help our bodies stop behaving as though every inconvenience is an incoming meteor.

Personally, I appreciate that.

I've spent enough time worrying about things beyond my control to realize that my anxiety has never successfully lowered the price of gasoline, improved customer service, or made politicians more competent.

But finding humor in frustrating situations can change how I experience them.

When technology refuses to cooperate, I can either become furious or imagine that my printer has developed a personal vendetta against me.

The printer still won't work.

But at least I'm entertained.

A 2026 meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials involving 1,344 adults found that laughter interventions reduced stress, although the researchers cautioned that results varied considerably between studies.

That doesn't mean laughter eliminates life's problems.

It means laughing might make those problems a little easier to carry.

And at this stage of life, I'll gladly accept anything that makes the load lighter.

My Brain Needs a Vacation, and Apparently Laughter Can Help

I've noticed something about adulthood: the older we get, the more responsibilities seem to accumulate.

Somewhere along the way, life becomes an endless cycle of appointments, paperwork, responsibilities, and remembering passwords.

I now have passwords for websites I don't remember joining.

Some require twelve characters, a number, a symbol, and apparently the blood of a mythical creature.

Then the website announces that my password has expired.

Wonderful.

Nothing improves my mood like being told that the password I've successfully remembered for six months is no longer acceptable.

This is where humor becomes more than entertainment.

Laughter and enjoyable social experiences may help improve mood and reduce the emotional burden of everyday frustrations.

Researchers have examined humor-based activities among older adults and found encouraging results.

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Geriatric Nursing in 2025 examined 13 studies involving 984 participants. The researchers found that humor therapy was associated with improvements in depression, loneliness, and overall quality of life.

That's encouraging evidence, although it doesn't establish that laughter alone can prevent depression or treat every mental health condition.

Still, I find the implications fascinating.

Something as simple as sharing jokes, watching comedy, or participating in amusing activities could become a useful part of maintaining emotional well-being.

Of course, I wouldn't recommend replacing professional mental health treatment with three episodes of an old sitcom and a bag of popcorn.

But as a complement to appropriate care?

Absolutely.

After all, when life starts feeling overwhelmingly serious, sometimes the healthiest response is to remember that not every moment deserves the dramatic soundtrack we've assigned to it.

The Heart Wants What the Heart Wants, and Sometimes That's a Good Joke

As we get older, cardiovascular health becomes increasingly important.

Doctors encourage us to exercise, eat sensibly, manage blood pressure, and avoid behaviors that increase cardiovascular risk.

Perfectly reasonable advice.

Unfortunately, it occasionally sounds like we're being instructed to spend the rest of our lives eating steamed vegetables while marching on a treadmill.

I'd prefer an occasional alternative that doesn't involve gym clothes.

Laughter has attracted scientific interest because it can influence breathing, circulation, heart rate, and blood pressure.

A hearty laugh temporarily increases heart rate and oxygen intake. As the laughter subsides, the body may enter a more relaxed state.

Some small studies have examined whether laughter-based interventions can improve cardiovascular-related measures, including blood pressure.

The findings are promising, but they remain limited. There isn't enough evidence to conclude that laughing regularly prevents heart attacks, replaces aerobic exercise, or provides the same cardiovascular benefits as established medical interventions.

That's an important distinction.

I would love to tell everyone that watching comedy for thirty minutes is equivalent to thirty minutes of brisk walking.

Believe me, I'd be first in line to register for the Lazy Person's Cardiovascular Comedy Program.

Unfortunately, science hasn't handed us that particular permission slip.

But laughter can still be part of a heart-healthy lifestyle, particularly when it helps reduce stress and encourages social interaction.

So I'll continue walking, eating reasonably well, and following sensible medical advice.

I'll just try to laugh at how enthusiastically my knees protest the entire arrangement.

Pain Management: Because Everything Hurts and I'm Running Out of Complaints

One of aging's less charming surprises is discovering that ordinary movements can suddenly feel like athletic events.

Bending down to tie my shoes? An adventure.

Sleeping in the wrong position? A potentially historic mistake.

Turning my head too quickly? Apparently an invitation for my neck to file a formal grievance.

For many older adults, chronic pain is far more serious than occasional aches. Arthritis, back problems, injuries, and other medical conditions can interfere with mobility, sleep, independence, and quality of life.

And while laughter certainly isn't a replacement for appropriate pain treatment, it may offer some temporary relief.

Laughter can encourage the release of endorphins, chemicals involved in the body's responses to pleasure and pain. Humor can also redirect attention away from discomfort.

That second benefit makes intuitive sense to me.

When I'm completely absorbed in something funny, I'm not focusing quite as intensely on every little ache.

The pain may still exist, but it doesn't necessarily occupy the entire stage.

And sometimes that matters.

Of course, laughter itself can be uncomfortable after surgery or with certain injuries, so there's no reason to force a belly laugh when it causes pain.

A gentle smile counts.

I also believe humor helps us avoid letting discomfort become our entire identity.

There's a difference between acknowledging pain and allowing every conversation to become a detailed report on which body part has betrayed us today.

I've attended conversations where people compared medical conditions with the competitive intensity of professional athletes.

One person mentions a sore hip, another produces a knee replacement story, and before long somebody is describing an operation with enough detail to qualify for continuing medical education.

Sometimes the healthiest thing we can do is interrupt the competition with a joke.

Not because the pain is imaginary.

Because we're more than our medical histories.

Laughter and the Immune System: Don't Throw Away Your Vitamins Just Yet

Here's where things get interesting.

Some research suggests that laughter may influence certain aspects of immune function, potentially through its effects on stress hormones and related physiological processes.

The Mayo Clinic identifies immune-system support as one possible longer-term benefit of laughter.

That's encouraging, especially for older adults, whose immune systems may become less effective with age.

But I want to be careful here.

The internet has an extraordinary talent for transforming preliminary scientific findings into outrageous health promises.

One minute researchers report that laughter influences a particular immune marker. Five minutes later, somebody online announces that watching comedy makes you immune to every disease known to humanity.

That's not how science works.

Laboratory changes in immune activity don't automatically translate into fewer infections or better long-term health outcomes.

Laughter doesn't replace vaccinations, preventive care, medications, nutrition, or sleep.

If it did, comedians would be running hospitals, and every pharmacy would have a stand-up stage beside the prescription counter.

Still, stress management is an important part of overall well-being, and laughter may contribute to it.

I like the idea that enjoying myself could potentially support my body's normal functioning.

It's one of the rare health recommendations that doesn't involve giving up something delicious.

For once, the advice isn't to eat less, drink less, or get up earlier.

It's to find more reasons to enjoy life.

Finally, a wellness recommendation I can support without negotiating.

Loneliness Is No Laughing Matter, but Humor Can Help Us Fight It

Now we arrive at what I consider one of the most important potential benefits of humor for older adults.

Connection.

As people age, their social circles can change dramatically.

Retirement may eliminate daily interaction with coworkers. Friends move away. Family members become busy. Health conditions can limit mobility. Losing a spouse or longtime companion can transform everyday life.

And suddenly, the social connections we once took for granted become harder to maintain.

Loneliness isn't simply an unpleasant emotion.

The CDC and National Institute on Aging identify loneliness and social isolation as significant concerns associated with poorer physical and mental health outcomes.

I find that troubling because human beings aren't meant to experience life entirely alone.

We need conversation, companionship, shared experiences, and the occasional opportunity to complain about something ridiculous with someone who understands.

Humor can help create those connections.

Think about the last time you genuinely laughed with another person.

Not the polite little chuckle we produce when somebody tells an unfunny joke.

I'm talking about real laughter, the kind that makes it difficult to finish a sentence.

Those moments create bonds.

They remind us that we're sharing an experience.

And sometimes, they help turn strangers into friends.

A comedy club, senior-center activity, community theater group, game night, or weekly gathering can offer opportunities for both laughter and companionship.

The social connection may be just as important as the laughter itself.

That's something researchers continue to investigate.

I don't particularly care whether the benefit comes from the joke, the friendship, or the combination.

If people leave feeling happier, more connected, and less alone, I'd call that a worthwhile afternoon.

Especially if somebody brought snacks.

A Good Sense of Humor Is Better Than Another Argument About the Thermostat

Relationships don't become magically simple as we age.

In fact, spending more time together can sometimes create entirely new opportunities for irritation.

Retirement sounds wonderful until two people who previously spent eight hours apart discover that they now have very different opinions about how the dishwasher should be loaded.

Or what constitutes a reasonable television volume.

Or whether the thermostat should be set at 68 or 73 degrees.

Some couples have been married for fifty years and are still conducting a low-intensity cold war over the proper arrangement of kitchen utensils.

I respect the commitment.

Humor can help defuse everyday tension.

A playful observation or shared joke can sometimes interrupt an argument before it becomes unnecessarily serious.

It reminds us that most domestic disagreements aren't worth sacrificing an otherwise enjoyable day.

Naturally, humor requires judgment.

Making fun of someone's genuine pain, limitations, or insecurities isn't the same thing as laughing together.

And using jokes to dismiss legitimate concerns can make relationships worse.

But affectionate humor can help people navigate life's ordinary absurdities.

I've always believed that relationships benefit when both people can admit how ridiculous they're occasionally being.

Not every disagreement requires a courtroom-style presentation of evidence.

Sometimes all it takes is acknowledging that two grown adults have spent twenty minutes arguing about the correct location of a soup spoon.

And then laughing about it.

Depression, Anxiety, and the Power of an Unexpected Smile

Aging can involve difficult transitions.

Retirement can create feelings of lost purpose. Chronic illness may reduce independence. Grief can become an unwelcome companion. Anxiety about health, finances, and the future can make ordinary days feel overwhelming.

These challenges deserve compassion and appropriate support.

But humor may offer one useful tool for coping with them.

A 2026 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research reviewed 33 studies of laughter therapy and found improvements in depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms.

That doesn't mean every older adult will experience the same results, or that laughter therapy should replace psychotherapy or medication when those treatments are needed.

But it does suggest that enjoyable, laughter-focused activities may have a meaningful role in emotional wellness.

Personally, I like the idea that moments of joy still matter during difficult periods.

I don't believe we have to pretend everything is wonderful.

That kind of forced positivity can be exhausting.

Sometimes life is unfair, frightening, disappointing, or simply exhausting.

And no amount of inspirational refrigerator magnets will change that.

But allowing ourselves to laugh during difficult circumstances doesn't mean we're ignoring reality.

It means we're refusing to let hardship dictate every emotional moment.

We can grieve and still laugh.

We can worry and still enjoy something funny.

We can acknowledge our limitations without surrendering our sense of humor.

And I think that's a valuable kind of resilience.

Can Laughter Keep Our Brains Sharp? The Jury Is Still Out

I wish I could announce that laughing regularly guarantees a photographic memory and protects us from cognitive decline.

I'd love to say that watching comedy every evening would ensure that I never again walk into a room and forget why I went there.

Unfortunately, the evidence isn't strong enough to support those claims.

The 2025 review of humor therapy among older adults found improvements in several emotional outcomes but did not establish significant cognitive benefits.

That doesn't make laughter useless for brain health.

Enjoyable activities can encourage conversation, attention, creativity, and social engagement.

Trying to understand a clever joke also involves language, context, and interpretation.

But that's not the same as proving that laughter prevents dementia or reverses cognitive impairment.

And I don't think we need to exaggerate the science to appreciate the benefits.

Sometimes improving quality of life is enough.

Besides, forgetting why I entered a room has occasionally become an opportunity for an unexpected adventure.

I go to the kitchen looking for something.

Forget what it was.

Discover a cookie.

Return to the living room.

Mission accomplished.

I may not have achieved my original objective, but I'd argue that the outcome was still reasonably successful.

Sleep Better by Laughing More? Now We're Talking

Sleep is another area where researchers have explored possible benefits of laughter-based activities.

And frankly, anything that might help older adults sleep deserves attention.

Sleep problems can become more common with age, particularly when medical conditions, medications, stress, or changes in routine interfere with rest.

Some nights, falling asleep feels like trying to negotiate a peace treaty with my own brain.

The moment my head hits the pillow, my mind decides it's the perfect time to review every embarrassing thing I've said since 1987.

Then it starts worrying about tomorrow.

Then it remembers a bill.

Then it wonders whether I locked the front door.

Excellent.

A 2019 meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that laughter and humor interventions were associated with improved sleep quality, along with reductions in depression and anxiety.

A separate review of laughter yoga in older adults also identified promising sleep-related findings.

The studies were relatively limited, so we shouldn't assume laughter reliably treats insomnia.

But reducing stress and participating in enjoyable social activities may support better rest for some people.

I certainly prefer ending my evening with something amusing rather than spending forty-five minutes consuming alarming headlines.

The world will still have problems tomorrow.

I don't need to invite all of them into bed with me.

Laughter Yoga: Apparently We've Found a Way to Exercise Without Understanding the Rules

When I first encountered the concept of laughter yoga, I assumed someone had invented it after a particularly confusing fitness class.

Traditional yoga already asks people to bend into positions that seem incompatible with ordinary human anatomy.

Adding laughter sounded like a natural consequence.

But laughter yoga is a real practice.

It combines intentional laughter exercises with breathing techniques and often takes place in groups.

Participants may begin by laughing deliberately, without needing a joke or humorous situation.

And yes, I realize that sounds strange.

Imagine walking into a room filled with adults standing in a circle, pretending to laugh.

Now imagine someone explaining that this is a wellness activity rather than an audition for a particularly unsettling television commercial.

But here's the interesting part.

Research suggests that laughter yoga may improve certain emotional and physical measures, including mood, loneliness, and perceived quality of life.

A systematic review published in 2020 found encouraging results among older adults, although the evidence came from a small number of studies.

Group participation may contribute to the benefits, and researchers still need stronger trials to determine exactly which elements are most effective.

Would I try it?

Possibly.

I'd probably feel ridiculous for the first ten minutes.

But I've reached an age where being ridiculous no longer seems particularly threatening.

After all, I've seen people willingly wear matching pajamas for family photographs.

A little organized laughter hardly seems like society's greatest embarrassment.

The Best Part About Getting Older Is That Everything Becomes Comedy Material

One advantage of age is perspective.

Things that once seemed catastrophic can eventually become entertaining stories.

A disastrous date becomes a funny memory. An embarrassing mistake becomes family folklore. An argument that once consumed an entire weekend becomes something we laugh about at reunions.

Experience gives us a larger collection of absurdities to appreciate.

And let's face it, modern life provides endless material.

Technology alone could support an international comedy festival.

Every household appliance now wants an internet connection.

My television needs updates.

My car has software.

My refrigerator apparently has aspirations beyond keeping food cold.

And somewhere, a technology executive is working feverishly to invent a subscription service for opening kitchen cabinets.

Then there's the language of modern advertising.

Products aren't simply sold anymore.

They're reimagined, reinvented, revolutionized, and optimized.

I recently realized that even toilet paper companies want us to believe they're transforming the human experience.

Sometimes a product just needs to do its job.

And sometimes, being older gives us the confidence to say so.

I don't believe we need to chase every trend, understand every social media platform, or pretend that every new invention represents progress.

We can appreciate modern conveniences while laughing at their absurdities.

That doesn't make us outdated.

It makes us observant.

Humor Helps Us Accept What We Cannot Control

Perhaps the greatest psychological benefit of humor is its ability to change our relationship with uncertainty.

Aging reminds us that control is often an illusion.

Bodies change. Plans get interrupted. Unexpected problems arise. People we love face challenges. The future remains stubbornly unpredictable.

We can make sensible choices, prepare responsibly, and take care of ourselves.

But we cannot eliminate uncertainty.

And trying to control absolutely everything is an exhausting way to live.

Humor gives us another option.

We can acknowledge the absurdity of situations without pretending they aren't difficult.

We can recognize that some frustrations don't deserve the emotional energy we're giving them.

And we can occasionally laugh at our own mistakes instead of treating every imperfection as evidence of personal failure.

I've found that being able to laugh at myself is particularly valuable.

After all, I'm the one person whose ridiculous behavior I'm guaranteed to witness for the rest of my life.

If I can't find humor in that arrangement, I'm going to have a very long retirement.

The ability to laugh at ourselves can soften embarrassment, reduce defensiveness, and make ordinary setbacks easier to navigate.

It doesn't require us to stop caring.

It simply means accepting that dignity and foolishness can coexist.

Quite comfortably, in fact.

How I Would Add More Laughter to Everyday Life

I don't think we need an elaborate wellness program to make humor part of daily life.

In fact, the moment laughter becomes another obligation on a color-coded productivity calendar, we've probably missed the point.

I prefer simple approaches.

I'd start by making time for entertainment that genuinely makes me laugh.

That might mean watching classic sitcoms, enjoying stand-up comedy, reading humorous books, or revisiting movies that have made me laugh for years.

And I refuse to apologize for watching something I've already seen.

If I know exactly when the funny part is coming and still laugh, I'd call that reliable entertainment.

I'd also make a point of spending more time with people who bring out my sense of humor.

Some individuals have a remarkable talent for making ordinary conversations entertaining.

They don't need rehearsed jokes.

They simply notice the funny details that everyone else overlooks.

Those are the people worth keeping close.

Family gatherings, community activities, hobby clubs, and senior centers can provide opportunities for shared amusement.

For people with limited mobility, phone calls and video conversations can still create meaningful connections.

And while social media can be an endless source of frustration, it can also deliver genuinely funny content.

I just recommend exercising caution.

One minute you're watching a harmless video of a dog riding a skateboard.

The next minute, an algorithm is trying to convince you that the moon is fake and your toaster is spying on you.

Perhaps moderation is appropriate.

I'd also try to find humor in everyday frustrations.

Not every inconvenience deserves a joke. Some problems require action, compassion, or serious attention.

But the little annoyances?

Those are fair game.

If I accidentally put the television remote in the refrigerator, I have two options.

I can become irritated about my absentmindedness.

Or I can appreciate the fact that my remote is now refreshingly chilled.

Sometimes happiness comes down to interpretation.

We Need to Stop Treating Older Adults Like Fragile Decorations

There's another issue that deserves attention.

Society often portrays older adults as though aging automatically removes their personalities.

Apparently, once someone reaches a certain birthday, we're expected to become permanently gentle, endlessly sentimental, and fascinated by inspirational photographs of sunsets.

Nonsense.

Older adults can be funny, mischievous, sarcastic, outspoken, adventurous, and delightfully inappropriate for polite conversation.

Age doesn't eliminate personality.

If anything, experience can make people's personalities more interesting.

We've lived through enough nonsense to develop well-informed opinions about it.

Yet entertainment and advertising frequently portray seniors as either helpless individuals struggling with technology or cheerful grandparents whose entire existence revolves around cookies and family photographs.

I find that insulting.

Older adults don't need to be protected from every joke.

They deserve entertainment that recognizes their intelligence, experiences, and sense of humor.

Of course, humor should be inclusive rather than cruel.

There's an enormous difference between laughing together about aging's absurdities and humiliating someone because of age-related limitations.

But there's no reason older people can't enjoy irreverent comedy, clever satire, or a perfectly timed joke about life's ridiculous realities.

We're not museum exhibits.

We're people.

And some of us have been collecting excellent jokes for decades.

Laughter Isn't a Miracle Cure, and That's Perfectly Fine

Before anyone rushes off to cancel their medical appointments and subscribe to twelve comedy channels, I want to emphasize something important.

Laughter is not a substitute for healthcare.

It doesn't cure arthritis, prevent every infection, eliminate depression, or guarantee a longer life.

The research is encouraging in several areas, especially stress, mood, loneliness, and quality of life, but many studies are small, use different interventions, and have methodological limitations.

The strongest practical conclusion is that humor and laughter can be enjoyable, low-cost additions to a broader approach to healthy aging.

That broader approach still includes appropriate medical care, regular movement, nutritious food, social connection, sufficient sleep, and attention to mental health.

I also don't believe anyone should feel obligated to laugh when they're grieving, depressed, exhausted, or genuinely struggling.

Sometimes the healthiest response is to acknowledge pain and seek support.

We don't need to turn happiness into another performance requirement.

But when laughter comes naturally, or when we can create opportunities for enjoyable experiences, it may help make life a little more manageable.

And that strikes me as a perfectly good reason to welcome it.

My Final Thoughts: I Refuse to Spend My Golden Years Acting Like Every Day Is a Medical Emergency

The older I get, the more convinced I become that aging well involves more than maintaining physical health.

Of course, health matters enormously.

I want to remain active, independent, and capable of enjoying life for as long as possible.

But I also want to enjoy the years themselves.

I don't want every conversation to revolve around medications, medical procedures, retirement expenses, and which restaurant offers the most generous senior discount.

Although, for the record, I fully support senior discounts.

If surviving decades of adulthood earns me ten percent off breakfast, I'm taking it.

What I don't want is to become so preoccupied with aging that I forget to live.

I want to laugh with friends.

I want to find ordinary situations ridiculous.

I want to enjoy funny movies, terrible jokes, unexpected conversations, and the kind of laughter that leaves everyone around the table wiping tears from their eyes.

I want to remain curious, playful, and willing to look foolish occasionally.

Most importantly, I want to remember that getting older isn't the same thing as becoming less alive.

Yes, there will be aches and pains.

Yes, some things will become more difficult.

And yes, I'll probably continue wandering into rooms with absolutely no recollection of why I went there.

But none of those things requires me to surrender my sense of humor.

Science suggests that laughter may help reduce stress, improve mood, encourage social connection, and enhance quality of life.

That's a pretty impressive collection of possible benefits for something that doesn't require a prescription.

And even when laughter doesn't improve a measurable health outcome, it can still make an ordinary day more enjoyable.

I think that's worth something.

We're constantly reminded that life is short.

We're told to exercise, eat vegetables, save money, schedule checkups, and prepare for the future.

All sensible advice.

But perhaps we should add another recommendation to the list.

Find something funny.

Share a ridiculous story.

Call someone who makes you laugh.

Watch the comedy you've seen a hundred times.

And when life presents you with another absurd situation, consider whether it deserves your anger or your amusement.

Because the truth is, none of us gets to choose every challenge that comes with aging.

But when circumstances allow, we can choose to preserve our capacity for joy.

I don't expect laughter to make me twenty-five again.

Frankly, I wouldn't want to repeat all the mistakes I made at twenty-five.

But if humor can help me feel a little lighter, a little more connected, and a little less overwhelmed by life's daily nonsense, I'll happily make room for more of it.

And if somebody eventually invents a prescription for laughter, I have just one request.

Please don't let the insurance company require prior authorization.

I can already imagine the conversation.

"Your laughter has been denied because you haven't demonstrated medical necessity."