October 15, 2021

It was a cloudy, dreary night in Decatur, Georgia. My dad and I were sitting on the couch in my living room digesting the news: my mom had cancer. It was one of those moments where I could feel the weight of life on me. My chest was tight, my shoulders heavy, my jaw was clenched. My dad picked up the Roku and turned on Modern Family, one of our go-to shows. Phil Dunphy, played by Ty Burrell, was engaged in his typical mildly idiotic activities. Specifically, Phil introduced his book of quotes Phil’s-osophy as a gift to his daughter, Haley, when she left for college. He proudly showcases the book and quotes “always look people in the eye, even if they’re blind”. Admittedly, the quotes make him look far more dumb than he actually is, but it is all in an attempt to comfort his daughter and prepare her for the real world.

He was so willing to give his sage advice, no matter how idiotic it seemed to others because that is what made him happy. As I began to laugh, some of the weight lifted off my chest; I felt lighter. When the show ended my dad turned and said to me, “Sometimes all you need is a good laugh”. I realized he was right. Sure, everyone loves to laugh at friends, jokes, and silly days, but laughing helps us cope with all of the heaviness in life too. Moments in which people have made me laugh have taught me that laughter is the best medicine, and that being funny is often about embracing what makes everyone unique. 

My all-time favorite comedian is Conan O’Brien: the Harvard-educated, formal SNL writer, now talk show host, from Brookline, Massachusetts. To me, he is the perfect example of using humor to embrace himself and his quirks. There is a particular video that is part of his series “Conan in Italy'' with his protege, Jordan Schlansky, who is infamous for his obsession with Italy. So, naturally, Conan and Jordan venture to a traditional coffee shop in Naples and Conan unleashes his comedic genius and vibrant personality. Annoyed by Jordan’s insistence on taking every part of coffee-making so seriously, Conan does what he does best: he starts making people laugh. Conan takes a shot (of espresso) and starts running around the cafe like a madman - suddenly the cafe becomes an amusement park, and everyone watching Conan is a gleeful little kid, as they witness the chaos ensuing. Conan knows he is being funny, but he is also being himself. There are very few talk show hosts (or people, for that matter) in their 40s who would run around an Italian cafe literally purring and screaming just to make the segment work and to get a laugh out of their audience. 

Funny moments like these are a reminder that it is ok to unleash the aspects of ourselves that others may consider “weird” because it will both make ourselves and those around us happy. Laughter is the best medicine because it allows us to take the world around us less seriously, and lighten up the heavier moments with a joke or two. Laughter is a medication that treats the darkest moments with a beam of light that remedies the soul and highlights the special slivers of each individual.