The most wasted of days

...is one without laughter (e.e. cummings)


I believe in this quote more than I believe in most people. Laughing, in its most basic nature, purifies and refreshes the beating of your heart. It catches you off guard at times, knocks the wind from your lungs, tightens your stomach muscles and leaves you with the most incredible breath of new life as it passes, and softens, and lingers in your happiness. So laugh. Be happy.


I feel like reminders of the small wonders in life are necessary to maintain a positive perspective on the act of living. It's mainly the huge uproars of catastrophy in the political, social, and environmental spheres of life that get me down and depressed about the world. But then I remember living, and experiencing, and failing, and succeeding and all of the intense emotions and outcomes of each- it helps; it heals. When something as simple as a laugh can define the infinite beauty of existence, you realize how complex the whole system is. Sure, we're in a terribly awful, no good, very bad economic period; however, one tiny portion of my day can overlook these unfortunate circumstances to enjoy a magnificient parade of clouds against the sky, or an ice cream cone melting down the side of my hand in the blazing summer heat, or the company of lovely individuals. We can't let the beauty and joy of life become overshadowed and destroyed by the unfortunate decisions of a few powerful people (ahem, BP) or the unpredictable wrath of the invisible hand. Take the little things: a lemonade stand, a good book, fireplaces on cold nights, baking anything, laughing at everything- and enhance their impact on your life. Make them the main points of focus when possible. The result should be equivalent to something between taking a warm bath and falling in love. Maybe.