Laughter puts a bit of sanity in the insane

When terrible things happen, one of the first things to disappear in the chaos is laughter. Somehow all the smiles and giggles that once filled the day get tossed to the wind and pushed aside giving other things more importance. Things like fear, anger, sadness and worries.

For many people, laughter just doesn’t fit in with all that’s happening in their crazy, mixed up world. I mean, how can anyone laugh when their life is falling apart. It just seems impossible…absurd…oh, so wrong.

After being diagnosed with MS, in my head I had created a nightmare even worse than the one I was living. No one knows how long a difficult time with MS will last and laughter is one of those things that simply makes the steps lighter and easier to make. Once laughter is gone, everything else falls apart so much faster and harder.

I, myself, have been known to laugh through the tears. That’s kind of like those times when it’s raining outside while the sun is still shining. Seems impossible, but it happens.

Laughter is important. It’s needed. It’s what puts that little bit of sanity into the insane. It brings out the rainbows and butterflies, and chases away the clouds.

I can laugh about my weak legs, muscle spasms, inability to remember things, lack of coordination, and bathroom mishaps. Granted, some of those things can be embarrassing and bring me to tears, but I choose to laugh anyway. Laughter has this wonderful ability of helping to lessen the pain.

Laughing doesn’t mean I’m ignoring reality. It doesn’t mean I’m being careless, ignorant or naive. It just means that I am putting down all those weighty, life altering thoughts and moments for awhile in order to rest and build up the strength needed for the upcoming journey.

Never apologize for laughing and don’t ever feel guilty for enjoying life in the midst of the struggle. The person that can enjoy the journey regardless of the potholes, ditches, mud puddles, and pain is a rare breed. Be that rare breed.

Don’t let the things you are facing today take away your ability to laugh. Nothing is impossible with MS, the word itself says it all ‘I’m possible’! Wear a smile through the tears, go against the flow and allow yourself time to laugh, really laugh…and keep on laughing. It does the body good.