Yesterday, Michelle, the boys and I, went to see the comedian Danny Bhoy at Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto (Sophie is away at university). I must say that I have not laughed like that in a long time. I don’t want to spoil his routine so I won’t repeat some of his best jokes but he has a way of engaging the audience through funny story telling. He also laughs at his own jokes, which makes you smile and laugh too. He is hilarious in my opinion!
If you have not seen him, I would highly recommend that you do. Just Google Danny Bhoy online for some of his past comedy routines. We especially love some of his older material such as his routine about how Scotland got its national flower (the thistle) and his diddle-lee-dee potatoes segment. We really enjoy watching him and we were very happy to get tickets to see him in person in Toronto. We knew that we would be laughing a lot. The best part of the night was that for ninety minutes, none of us where talking about or thinking about cancer! Instead we were laughing our heads off. A welcome reprieve.
Michelle and I had our three children, Jonathan, Joshua and Sophia in the span between the late 1990's and early 2000's therefore these years are pretty much a blur for us. Our children did not sleep well, so we endured a severe lack of sleep for most of the decade. We often rented a movie from Blockbuster only to return it the next day not having watched it or falling asleep before it was over. (How many of you parents out there can relate to that?)
The same goes for t.v. shows. We watched t.v. inconsistently throughout their growing up years. When your children outnumber you, you spend most of your time trying to keep the peace, especially with two active boys or keep trying to get to bed early to catch up on your sleep as kids tend to wake up early (thank you Captain Obvious!).
Recently Michelle and I have began to watch Friends on Netflix. We binge watch a few episodes before bed a few nights a week. This show makes us laugh! Even though it may no longer be politically correct or accurate for today’s society (lets get real- no one could afford an apartment like Rachel and Monica’s, based on their jobs- at least not in TO!). With all the daily negative news stories and shows about murder and gun violence currently on t.v. these days we appreciate a good laugh before heading off to bed. Laughter changes your mindset.
It is amazing how laughter can change your mood and make you forget all about your troubles, even if it is for a few short moments. These are cherished moments of time. Last week, I met up with my friend Crystal for coffee and within a few minutes she had me in a full on belly laugh (you know those uncontrollable laughs that almost make you cry!). She has always had the ability to make me smile and giggle. We need more 'giggle time' in our lives.
Here is what the Canadian Cancer Society has to say about Laughter and Cancer :
Although cancer isn't a funny subject, some people find that laughter helps them deal with the stress and anxiety around cancer. Using laughter to relieve tension doesn't mean you aren't taking cancer seriously. It's OK to laugh. When a person laughs, their brain releases chemicals that relax muscles and make them feel good. SO don't hesitate to watch your favourite funny movie or read your favourite funny book again. Or call a friend to tell them about the silly thing your pet did. You just might feel better afterwards. ( I know that I do!)
So don't be afraid to laugh. Laugh at yourself, laugh with others, surround yourself with those people who can help you giggle. It won't make the cancer go away, but I can definitely say that it changes mindset, and mindset is half the battle.
I try to laugh and smile each and every day! Michelle and our kids help make this happen. They are always trying to brighten my spirits, provide me with moments to smile and moments to laugh at a with each other.
While most of the 90's and early 2000's were mostly a blur, we can both agree that we would not have changed a thing. Michelle and I cherish these memories and heck, we can now binge watch these shows and movies on Netflix any time we want!
Richard
