by Naomi Bang ‘23

This past year and seven months has been long and exhausting, to say the least. But it wasn’t all bad. In between the isolation and burnout, people fought adversity with laughter. Sometimes the best thing to do during the worst of times is just have a good laugh. 

Laughter is scientifically known to reduce stress as well as depression and anxiety. In the long run, it is beneficial for cardiovascular and immune system health. During the pandemic, the entire world was experiencing the same disruptions in their normal routines, the same fears about a new, unknown virus, and the collective desire for some good news. Yet people found that in the midst of the relentless seriousness, the best defense against their worries is humor. For some families, the pandemic lockdown allowed time for more laughter and memories shared over meals and bike rides. For others, finding joy meant meeting friends in backyards and finding creative ways to spend time together while socially distancing. Slowly, outdoor mask mandates dropped, schools opened in-person, concert venues opened. Months apart gave people all the more reason to celebrate that the dark days were starting to look brighter. “The human race has one really effective weapon,” said Mark Twain, “and that is laughter. The moment it arises, all your irritations and resentments slip away.”