The word ‘compassionate’ drifted through her mind in search of something to connect with.
The last couple months I’ve had this phrase floating around in the back of my head – “Better living through compassionate humor”.
Yes, it’s an obvious play on “better living through chemistry”, but when you consider that laughter and compassion release oxytocin and other endorphins for feeling good and increasing community … it might not be such a bad choice to play off of.
I’m still trying to figure out exactly what it means, in terms I can explain to other people. I have a sense of what it would feel like to be in that moment, but I’m not sure how to get there or the concrete details of what it would look/sound/etc. like.
These are some of the thoughts I’ve had so far:
- It’s about making our lives, and the lives of those around us, better.
- It’s about inviting people to join us, without creating an us-vs-them situation.
- It’s about making a positive, happy environment while staying grounded in the world as it is.
- It’s about finding ways to not suffer jerks and fools silently (and not suffering abuse in return).
- It’s about using humor to lighten the burdens we each carry – making spoons out of laughter.
- It’s about being smart or nerdy or witty without being pompous. Relatedly, it’s about making ‘silly’ ok for adults, too.
Your turn. What would “compassionate humor” mean to you?
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