WAHAT #6: What Are You Laughing At?

A dynamic, colorful abstract image that illustrates the human energy and spiritual power of laughter, created by ChatGPT 4o.

I laugh a lot. Usually out loud, whether there are others around or not. It’s not an affectation. I’ve always been wired this way. Ask anyone who’s known me for longer than, say, one to three minutes.

Evidence abounds.

• For years, friends have said I should replace my and/or their voicemail announcement recording with nothing but a few seconds of my laughter. 

• I laughed while boarding a flight with my wife and her mother. From many rows away, a voice announced, “That’s got to be Michael Dortch.” The voice belonged to a colleague I hadn’t seen or spoken with in longer than I could remember, then or now.

• And my beloved, resourceful wife once found me on the busy, crowded exhibit floor of New York City’s Jacob Javitz Convention Center by listening for my laughter. (Did I marry the right person or what?)

I see my predilection for laughter as a superpower. Not because I can don rose-colored glasses no matter what I’m looking at (which is definitely not always true). It enables me to find the split-second I need to take a breath, let it out, and approach the next moment more clearly. 

Also, stuff is often just funny.

Even more important and magical to me, more often than not, an outburst of my laughter inspires a heightened level of levity in those near me, even if for only a moment. The ability to help others feel better in any way, shape, or form is a blessing, a gift, and a superpower.

But Enough About My Laughing…

How about you? What makes you laugh? Not just grin quietly, but laugh out loud, at least a little?

It’s an important distinction. Grins are good, but laughter is where the real benefits come from. I give you a quote from “The Science Behind the Health Benefits of Laughter,” published by “Mental Resilience Expert” John Dabrowski November 7, 2020.

“Experts confirm that laughter boosts your immune system, enhances your memory and learning abilities, relieves tension, slows your pulse rate and blood pressure, releases endorphins that reduce pain, decreases anxiety and stress, puts people at ease, and brings unity.”

Who doesn’t want all of that? (If it’s you who doesn’t want all of that, I strongly recommend you delve into why, perhaps with helpful guidance from a “mental resilience expert” or similarly qualified other person. Just a thought.)

More? Sure. The vagus nerve controls and influences much communication between your brain and the rest of your most important organs and resources. The vagus nerve stimulates what’s sometimes known as the "rest and digest" response via your body’s parasympathetic nervous system or PNS.

And how can you stimulate your vagus nerve? By smiling. Which often accompanies laughing in my experience. Your smileage may vary. Yes, I did.

Dortch’s Recommendations for Adding More Laughter to Your Life

• Find the funny. Questions such as “What’s so funny?” and “What are you laughing about?” are not just challenges from the easily triggered or humor-impaired. They’re perfectly good questions to ask yourself about almost anything. You just may want to read the room before choosing whether to ask and answer such questions out loud where you are.

• Consume frequent shots of humor. Just experience a stressful episode? Take a few minutes for a humor-flavored "chaser" -- a TikTok or YouTube cute animal or kid video or a bit of stand-up after watching the news, a slasher movie, or that crime drama.

• Reduce exposure to laughter-discouraging people, places, and things, IRL and especially online. You know who, where, and what they are. Skip the news. Read the comics.

Laughter is known aphoristically as the best medicine for a bunch of good reasons. If you don’t keep some in your pocket, purse, desk, or other frequently encountered conveyance or location, start doing so. You’ll feel better soon and more often – and those around you will note and appreciate the difference. Unless they just hate seeing other people happy. 

You know who they are. Just make sure they aren’t you.

Now What? Your Serve...

I am naively optimistic enough to believe there is value in trying to look at what I do, how I do it, and why I do it. Writing about things like those in this piece is part of that process. So to echo my  ABCs of human motivation, the achievement of writing and sharing these posts delivers the benefit of helping me crystallize some thoughts and feelings, and tighten up some of the internal connections linking my body, mind, and spirit.

This collection of thoughts and feelings also offers the promise of connection with others. That's where you come in. 

Your reactions eagerly sought and warmly welcomed. Feel free to leave your thoughts wherever you’re reading this if comments are supported, or to email me directly at medortch@dortchonit.com. I hope this begins some interesting conversational threads, excerpts and summaries of which I will gladly and gratefully share (anonymously or with attribution as you prefer) in future outings, several of which are already in various stages of construction.

Thanks for reading. Thanks again in advance if you share your reactions with me, share this post with others, or both. And please stay connected so we can continue and extend this emerging, evolving conversation.

We All Hunger and Thirst (WAHAT) is a series of pieces I’m writing and publishing to share things I’ve learned and foster connections and conversations about various elements of life and the world. Send your suggestions and reactions to me directly at medortch@dortchonit.com and feel free to share what you’ve read with others. Thanks!