Wednesday, February 2

Laugh Your Way to Happy

Years ago, when I was first diagnosed with Crohn's disease, I spent months in and out of hospitals. I was sick much more than I was well, and was stuck in bed for weeks on end. And in the midst of this, an old friend of mine arrived, armed with I Love Lucy tapes.

Her thinking was . . . well, laughter is the best medicine. As since those were the (gulp) pre-NetFlix days, and I only had basic cable, there wasn't a lot on in the wee hours of the morning.

I took her advice. I watched back to back to back episodes when I was too sick to sleep. And I laughed. Out loud. Alone. I laughed hard.

Since then, I've ascribed to the idea that there are times in life when you don't need to add anything negative to your thinking. Just like sometimes I like a movie that will offer me a "good cry," there are times in life when you just need a good laugh.

So . . . what are your stand-bys when you know you need cheering up? I still love Lucy.

10 comments:

Lacey J Edwards said...

I used to watch I Love Lucy on Nick at Night. I don't think I have a stand-by! I'll have to find one. Great post!

Alyson Noel said...

Lucy is the queen of funny! I also turn to Psych, The Office, & reruns of Extras when I need a laugh!

Wendy Toliver said...

wow, great post, Erica! One of my favorite things to do when I need cheering up is dancing with my boys. We put on some good break dancing music and they always come up with innovative and hilarious moves. Dumb and Dumber (movie) is a go-to for big laughs, too. As far as TV, probably Seinfeld or Friends reruns.

Amanda Ashby said...

Great post, Erica! Like Wendy, Friends is my happy show and despite how many times I've seen it, I still watch one episode every single night and it still makes me laugh!

I'm actually watching it right now and am giggling because Chandler has just caught Joey teaching Ross how to talk dirty!!!!!

Erica Orloff said...

LJ:
I sometimes watch the Nanny as my standby! :-)

Erica Orloff said...

Alyson:
I've never tried Psych. I like the commercials . . . I should give it a shot.

Erica Orloff said...

Wendy:
Yadda, yadda, yadda! Of course . . . Seinfeld. LOL! It's actually aged well . . . and as a native New Yorker, so much of it rings true.

Erica Orloff said...

Amanda:
Friends is my daughter's happy show. :-)

Sara Hantz said...

I love watching funny when I'm sick or down. Well, any time, really. My favorite happy show, at the moment, is The Big Bang Theory, it cracks me up everytime I watch it. And, very exciting, season 4 starts over here on Wednesday night.

Melissa Walker said...

My new one is really 30 Rock. No one gets me guffawing like Liz Lemon!