Laugh at it all when you can

Like in the movie, 'Life is Beautiful'. Roberto Benigni uses humor as a shield against horrific things.
Great idea to use humor as a salve to deal with this trauma. 🦜

Without a sense of humor, I would have gone insane years ago. (Maybe I did and just didn't notice.)

About a year ago, I sharpened my talent for what are now known as "Dad Jokes" -- the sort of humor that got me literally booed off the stage in high school.

So far, I've had nearly a dozen of my jokes feature on local TV, during their weekly "Dad Joke Friday" on local news. Take *that*, Glenbard East High School!

For those of you who are gluttons for punishment, here's a playlist on YouTube (28 and counting). I write all my own material, by the way:

gratia: I agree that we have been given the wonderful gift of laughter that injects hormones resulting in a lighter mood, even in difficult situations. This is my goal and hope it will continue ‘til the end. I want my husband to have more happy days even when fear and uncertainty has caused difficult times.
I speak to him in terms of “our aging problems” and it has made him react with a sense of “solving our problem” rather than the angry, fearful words. I don’t know if this will last longer, or if it would be helpful to other caregivers like me.
We share good days and challenging ones, but we are going to search for laughter to deal with these “aging problems”. I hear you saying, “ This disease changes its issues frequently - nothing stays the same”.
I’m no Polly-Anna - I am taking each day and moment for what it is. I live in the reality of this disease. I just want us to laugh at the quirks of life as long as possible. I am grateful for y’all!

@dbamos1945
"Our aging problems"! What a great way to phrase it.
All the aging problems he is going through do belong to both of us.

@dbamos1945 I really like the idea of using the term “aging problems”. Thanks.

Laughing releases happy endorphins

I came across a book that is helping me to laugh through our unexpected journey - New Every Day: Navigating Alzheimer's with Grace and Compassion, by Dave Meurer. The title doesn't make you expect something funny, but the author is a humor writer by profession, and this is his story about how he and his wife have cared for his wife's mother, who has Alzheimer's. The information is accurate ... the tips he shares are practical ... and every time I go back to re-read on a particular topic, I am blessed with a good laugh again. Hope this is helpful to others in this wonderful support group.

Humor is relative.

While I was still in Acute Care after my stroke, I was almost totally helpless. In pain, scared, unable to move my right side, I needed help with everything. (I was 60 at the time; I'm 68 now.)

Among the things I hated most was needing help to go to the bathroom. I found it humiliating and embarrassing.

One night, a pretty young nursing aide was helping me in the bathroom. She was holding onto me very tightly, hugging me for dear life -- I'm a big guy, and falling was a genuine risk.

I looked at her, started chuckling, and said, "You know, in years past, when I was this intimate with a young lady, we were doing something a *lot* more fun than this."

Apparently, she didn't see the humor in my remark, which I thought was even funnier.

@scottrl
Please see last post in shocked by aging.

@dlynng Thank you! I just ordered this book and am looking forward to reading it!!🙏🥰