Has the pandemic caused us to lose our humor? Sometimes in desperate situations we make jokes to release tension. Obviously, today we are in a situation like no other. Most of us aren’t sure if it’s appropriate to share a joke, given so many people are suffering. So, can we still be ridiculous and laugh until our sides hurt?
I hope so, because if not, we‘re up sh**’s creek.
Laughing Is a Coping Mechanism
Gallows humor, or dark humor as it’s referred to, has helped military personnel handle stress on the job. Essentially, dark humor transforms ominous and hopeless situations with an ironic twist. Take, for instance, one of my favorite “dark” movies, The Cable Guy.
The Cable Guy is still in my top 50. It’s a dark comedy featuring Jim Carrey (Chip, the psychotic stalker) and Matthew Broderick (Steven, the unsuspecting customer) – an old school must see.
Then, of course, there is the cult-classic Office Space. If you haven’t seen
the movie, you must have been living under a rock. It has built a cult-following from a culture of overworked and under appreciated employees.
The Science Of Laughing
Laughter is one of the best tools we have for dealing with stress. It is a potent endorphin releaser. One recent study reveals that laughter releases endorphins in the brain. That’s the stuff that makes you feel good. The more endorphins you have, the more powerful the effect. In other words, by keeping things light and humorous, you’ll do your mental health a favor.
Laughing In The Face Of Adversity
In the era of social media technology, humor is spreading like wildfire —insert dark humor — or like Covid-19. Even in these inconceivably challenging times, the creativity of some people will leave even the staunchest of grumps chuckling.
The Sock Puppet & Coronavirus Rhapsody
One of the funniest videos I have seen is by Jamie Gagnon. He got so bored he created a video of a sock puppet “eating” the cars passing by his window. He then posted on his twitter account and well, the rest is history. (Do yourself a favor and look him up for a quick laugh).
Not to be outdone, Dana Jay Bein showed the world his brilliance by adapting the lyrics of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody into “Coronavirus Rhapsody”. Epic. Pure brilliance.
Is this a sore throat?
Is this just allergies?
Caught in a lockdown
No escape from reality.
Don’t touch your eyes
Just hand sanitize quicklyyyyy
I’m just a poor boy,
no job security
Because of easy spread,
even though
washed your hands,
laying low
I look out the window,
the curve doesn’t look flatter to me,
to me…
Click here to read the entire song.
Image Credits: Dana Jay Bein
You Say Quarantine, I Say?
Some are taking quarantine better than others. For extraverts, (that’s you ENTJs), isolation has led you down a path of insanity. Cabin fever, as we’ve found out, is a real thing. Try to mix up your space a little. Also, staying physically and mentally active is important. No, I don’t mean 100 laps from couch to refrigerator. That doesn’t count.
For the introverts, (that’s you INFPs), this is a dream come true. Now, introverts have a valid reason to stay home and avoid all human interaction. And naturally, they’re loving it.
Change Can Be Good
They say laughter is the best medicine, right? Laughing is a great way for us to stay connected. It’s end of the world as we know it. Our new world will be full of changes, it will never be as it was. But, it’s not all bad…
- People won’t be all up in your grill.
- Handshakes out, fist bumps in.
- See ya, bar nuts and salad bars.
- You’ll always have enough toilet paper.
Do yourself a favor and take a little dose of laughter. And while you’re at it, spread a little bit of that joy.