A Simple Dose of Joy (with side effects)
Last weekend I went away with my book group — a handful of close friends I’ve known for years.
We didn’t go out to dinner.
We didn’t have a big itinerary.
We didn’t do anything particularly “productive.”
We just stayed in … and talked.
And talked.
And laughed.
And shared what was really going on in our lives — the good, the hard, the messy, the funny.
The kind of conversations where you don’t have to perform.
Where you can exhale.
Where the laughter comes easily and often.
By the end of the weekend, I felt lighter. Calmer. More like myself.
And it reminded me of something we don’t talk about enough when we talk about health and longevity:
Joy isn't a luxury.
It's a requirement.
Laugher is not just “nice” - it's powerful medicine.
When we laugh, real physiological shifts happen:
Stress hormones drop
Muscles relax
Blood flow improves
Immune function gets a boost
Pain tolerance can increase
Mood and resilience improve
Laughter is like a gentle reset button for the nervous system.
It moves us out of constant vigilance and back into safety, connection, and ease.
And in midlife — when we’re often holding so much more than our own lives — that reset matters.
Sometimes you have to go looking for it.
Laughter doesn’t always just show up on its own.
Sometimes we have to create the conditions for it.
For me, that can be as simple as wandering into a little gift shop and reading every funny coaster, magnet, or greeting card on the rack. I can spend 30 minutes doing this — laughing quietly to myself like it’s my job.
Or sometimes laughter finds you in the most unexpected ways.
Just the other day, after my Taichi class, I got home and went to change. As I pulled at the waistband of my leggings, I felt something strange inside the back of my pants.
Turns out … there was a balled-up pair of underwear stuck in there.
Apparently it had gotten tangled in the laundry and I’d worn it through the entire class without noticing.
All I could think was:
What must that have looked like to everyone standing behind me?
And I just burst out laughing.
Because sometimes the best thing you can do for your health is not take yourself so seriously.
Joy and connection are longevity habits.
We spend a lot of time talking about protein, steps, strength training, sleep, and blood markers. And those things matter.
But so does this:
Making time for the friends who let you be fully yourself
Creating space for unstructured, unhurried conversation
Letting yourself laugh — even at the ridiculous moments
Choosing environments that feel light, warm, and human
These are not “extra” habits.
They are core roots of healthy aging.
In the world’s longest-lived communities, strong social ties and shared laughter are everyday occurrences. Not once-a-year events. Not rare treats. Just part of daily life.
Here's a small practice for this week …
Ask yourself:
When was the last time I laughed really hard?
Who are the people I can truly relax around?
What small thing reliably makes me smile?
Then schedule or create one moment of joy this week:
A walk or coffee with a friend
A phone call with someone who lifts you up
A comedy show, funny podcast, or silly movie
A slow wander through a shop full of ridiculous coasters, like this one:
It doesn’t have to be big.
It just has to be real.
Because the goal isn’t to build a perfect life.
It’s to build a life that feels good to live in — one laugh at a time.