OCTOBER 2026 - HUMOR in LIFE
Welcome!
Humor has helped me find joy and perspective, even in dark moments.
Writing this blog brought me back to one of those moments.
I took my mom, who lived alone in Connecticut, to the ER. The doctor said she had severe dementia and could no longer live on her own—and he couldn’t discharge her until I found an assisted-living facility to take responsibility for her care. Two days later, after I secured a placement, I returned to pick her up and found her layered in burgundy nursing pants, a multicolored floral blouse, a long green patient gown, and an orange sweater. The sight was so unexpected that I laughed. She chatted and smiled, unaware of what was happening, and asked if she was going home.
That laugh eased my guilt about leaving her in the ER and my worry about her being alone. The staff kept her safe and engaged amid the chaos, and my humor helped me absorb the diagnosis and focus on what came next: keeping her safe.
I’ve always valued my natural sense of humor, but I wanted more laughter in my life. So, I was delighted to discover Humor Me—How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy by Chris Duffy in the Barnes & Noble window on my way to shop.
Chris says he decided early in his career, “A life without humor… wasn’t much of a life at all. I needed that catharsis of laughter—joy, connection, release. Laughing wouldn’t erase the hard parts… but it gave me the energy and hope to deal with them.”
The book features interviews with scientists, experts, and everyday people exploring how humor can help us navigate society’s challenges.
· How to see the world and find material.
· How to notice what’s funny in your own life.
· How to invite laughter in moments that feel mundane—or even tragic.
· How humor can be misused—and what good humor looks like.
Chris’s definition: “Humor is a practice”—building the muscles to see, notice, and celebrate the delightful weirdness of our world.” He offers a 3 Pillars of Good Humor model: (1) Be present (2) Laugh at yourself (3) Take social risks.
In conclusion, Chris reflects: “At the start of life and at the end, we let go of our ego a little—we stop trying to look perfect. Instead, we laugh more and have a sense of humor about our foibles and failures.”
One line that especially spoke to my experience in the ER was this: “Humor is a lens that helps relieve the tension and weight of the world by finding delight and laughter in it.”
I encourage you to read Humor Me for its funny, insightful stories—and use them to build more humor and laughter in your own life.
Looking forward to meeting you over a cup of coffee and conversation!
HAT - A Western Cowboy - Just in time for the Halloween Party!!!
Maker - A Winfield Cover Co was a San Francisco based - vintage western -style hats 1960-1970.
The Hat and band are made of Brown Leather Suede and with decorative metal studs on the Band.
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