I’m of the belief that any laugh quieter than a donkey’s or a drunken medieval tavern-keeper’s is not worth the breath. I like laughing loudly, not at “polite” volumes. While uproarious mirth may not help me with sophistication, it has many powers for good. Here are three reasons you should embrace the belly laugh:
Category: The Life Apprenticeship
The Shared Lyft Ride Should Replace Public Transportation
I think it’s this feeling of safety that enables people to be so open with each other in shared Lyft rides. Unless you work really hard, you just won’t find the kind of regular spontaneity and friendliness of a shared Lyft in your next subway ride.
Against “Guilty Pleasures”
If you feel a “guilty pleasure” for eating chocolate, maybe you need to drop whatever moral standard has told you that eating chocolate makes you a less valuable person. Or maybe you just need to stop eating chocolate. But as long as you have the contradiction of “I like this” and “I think this is bad” going on, you’re just going to spiral into more pain.
Trade Peer Pressure for Past Pressure
Spend enough time around the good and dead people of the past and you will grow in their direction – just like you might grow in the direction of your millennial peers.
Use Charity To Become More Practical
These kinds of human interaction (especially for someone who has some shyness) certainly build character and courage. But for me they’ve also been great ways to build a base of practicality in know-how, equipment, and preparedness habits.
The Pleasure of Disproving the Experts
Want to start a podcast? Experts might tell you that you need the latest microphones, a sound mixer, a perfectly soundproof room, and high-cost conferencing software. Want to get into photography? Experts might say you need to get a fancy camera and understand aperture, shutter speed, ISO speed, exposure, and all the rest. Of course, they’d be mistaken.
The Silver Lining of Unlikely Faults
“You’re much too agreeable.” “You’re much too assertive.” “You’re far too focused.” “You’re far too curious.” “You’re much too perfectionistic.” “You’re much too fast.” In the course of your life, you’ll likely hear one of each of these pairs of criticisms (or ones like them). If you’re really growing your personality over time, you’ll hear both.
Be An Instigator
The word “instigator” speaks of someone who stirs up action in others – usually of the rebellious kind. But in our world of inertia and cowardice and status quo living and thinking, isn’t all action inherently rebellious?
Be the Euphoria You Want To See In the World
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
Living In (All) the Moment(s)
I remember all of the things I’ve done and left undone, and I either celebrate them or resolve to do what needs to be done so I can experience these moments of gratitude and presence without conflict.