Humor helps in digesting the life
I realized in my formative years that I was incapable of taking life too seriously.
The reason is- I get too serious and can make my own life, of others around me, miserable. I rust in questions which are just a reflection of how poor the self-image is. As an individual, the exercise gets heavy duty and dangerous.
It did become dangerous for a few years and I am not afraid to admit that. People who loved me and adored me were worried for me when I was in a low mental state. As cliché as it might sound, I was supposed to go through those years to understand what I value and how I wanted to live my life.
Cut to 2021, I started seeing that people stayed, they handled me and my questions. Even when they lost patience, they found a way back to me. I got the support I needed and I must caution you here, it wasn’t perfect. Of course, there were moments when I felt misunderstood and abandoned but that’s also the bundle of emotions talking. That’s also expecting a little too much from others who are equally at tussle with life and its myriad different meanings.
Through all the support and love, I chose the path of humor to keep me floating in the most healthy possible way. I remember when I was at home, seeping in self-loathing, getting nostalgic about all the good and bad times, I saw a short skit by SNL and instantly fell in love with it. Then I was introduced to alternatino comedy (please watch “world’s worst translator” if you haven’t already). The binge-watching made me realise the power of this art form where difficult conversations could be done without having to feel too much. You may wonder what’s the problem with feeling too much. None actually! It does not work for me, that’s all as I already feel too much, so too much of too much is too much!
It is significant at this point to realise that it is one of the many ways which keeps me afloat and not the only way. You can use it anywhere and anytime. Whether you’re fighting or getting bored or walking or eating or lying on your bed or travelling. One good old joke and bam, emotions are channelled differently and melodiously. The more intense or the pop psychology colloquial — negative” emotions are subsided and you can see things clearly, the fogginess is reduced. As much as I devour those heart-laced, scented, loaded sentences on love and friendship, I still devour them to a certain extent only. My day-to-day interaction needs to be mundane, silly and meaningful in some way or the other.
To communicate the idea- I can think of this movie called About Time. It is one of my favourite movies and I have only shared it once with anyone. I treasure it and it represents the prototype of the life I desire. The characters are not “sorted” but they are calm and won’t claim to be a fighter if the situation is beyond difficult. The movie reminds me that it’s okay to give up, be happy with what you have and still manage to laugh, at yourself or others. Every single detail of life is poetic and as Tim realises (reminder- watch this movie and I promise you’ll love Tim), you can be happy by taking charge of life but then you can’t be happy, all the time or content. There will be difficult times but even then you can find a moment of relief through some silliness and absolutely mad statements.
The closest idea in the Indian context is- bakchodi, not to be confused with chutzpah. At the corner of a kiosk or in a classroom or during office hours or while working at home, we all appreciate a clown moment, right? It’s a respite from fast-paced or boring work. A moment of comic relief makes the upcoming moments and time easier to digest and live with. That’s all life is, digesting it and moving on to the next day, right?
