Laughter really is one of life’s simplest pleasures… and one of the most powerful. It’s easy to forget that sometimes, especially when life feels heavy or we’re caught up in our own thoughts. But that moment when something catches you off guard and you properly laugh — not just a polite chuckle, but a full-on, can’t-stop, slightly embarrassing laugh — it changes everything, even if only for a few seconds.
And the best part? It doesn’t have to be anything big. It might be something silly. A comment, a memory, something completely random. Or one of those moments with friends where everything just tips over into laughter for no real reason at all. Those are often the best ones.
I’ve always loved those kinds of moments. The ones where you laugh so much your face hurts and you can’t quite catch your breath. It feels like a release, doesn’t it? Like everything tight or heavy just loosens a little.
And there’s actually a reason for that. Laughter isn’t just emotional — it’s physical too. It reduces stress hormones, boosts endorphins (those lovely feel-good chemicals), and even helps relax your body. It’s been linked to improved immunity, better circulation, and an overall sense of wellbeing. Not bad for something that usually starts with something completely daft.
There’s even such a thing as laughter yoga — which sounds a bit odd at first, I know — but it’s based on the idea that your body doesn’t really know the difference between fake laughter and real laughter. So even if you start by forcing it (which feels ridiculous), it often turns into genuine laughter anyway. And apparently, the benefits are the same. Which I find fascinating… and also slightly hilarious in itself.
And then there’s that other kind of laughter… the kind where you laugh so much you start to panic slightly because you realise you might actually pee! I mean, no one really warns you about that part of midlife, do they? You go from carefree, laughing at everything when you’re younger, to suddenly having to cross your legs and hope for the best. It’s equal parts hilarious and slightly inconvenient. But honestly, if you’re going to laugh that hard, it almost feels worth it. Almost.
And then there’s the whole “LOL” thing. It’s so normal now that we barely think about it, but it actually started way back in the early days of internet chat rooms as shorthand for “laughing out loud”. These days, let’s be honest, most of us use it when we’re barely even smiling. But every now and then, something genuinely earns a proper LOL — and those are the moments to hold onto. Because laughter isn’t just good for the body… it’s good for the soul too.
It lifts you. It shifts your energy. It brings you back into the present moment in a way not much else can. You can’t really overthink when you’re properly laughing. You’re just… there. And I think, especially in midlife, that becomes even more important.
We’ve got more going on — physically, emotionally, hormonally — and it’s very easy to get caught up in all of that. But laughter cuts through it. It reminds you not to take everything so seriously. To find the lightness, even on the heavier days. Because sometimes, the most healing thing you can do… is just laugh.
This is something I touch on in my book too — not necessarily laughter itself, but the idea of finding those moments that lift you, ground you, and bring you back to yourself. If that resonates, you can find it on Amazon and if you google The Enchanted Midlife by Suzy Turner, you will also find it on numerous other online bookstores.
If you’re taking part in the A to Z Blogging Challenge this year, let me know in the comments so I can check out your posts. And if you’d like to catch up on the rest of mine, you can find some of them here: A is for Alchemy, B is for Becoming, C is for Cycles, D is for Disillusionment, E is for Energy, F is for Flaws, G is for Grumpy, H is for Hormones, I is for Intuition, J is for Joy
