I’ll have what they are having!

I’ll have what they are having!

✨ With the kids back in school (and my snack pantry finally getting a break), I’ve found myself with a bit more freedom. And by freedom, I mean I’ve reclaimed my favorite coffee shops. The hustle, the bustle, the buzz of conversation—it’s all fuel for my extroverted soul.

So, there I was, tucked into my usual spot, when I found myself eavesdropping (only slightly) on a group of six retirees at the next table. I thought their laid-back chat would be the perfect backdrop for my creative thinking. Well, I was both wrong and right.

Just a few minutes into my email routine (read, respond, file away), one of them raised their cup and said, “I’d like to make a toast to the fact that kids are back in school!” I almost laughed out loud because, well, same! Another chimed in, “I love my grandkids, but it’s great to have some free time.” It was like they were reading my mind.

Laughter truly is the best medicine, and I realized in that moment—I want to be like them when I grow up. I’ll have what they are having!!

I ended up staying an extra hour at the coffee shop, not just because I was on a roll with my work, but because the group’s laughter was contagious. Every few minutes, someone would crack a joke or tell a story, and the whole table would erupt. It was pure, joyful chaos, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

It got me thinking—I need more laughter in my life. So, I immediately downloaded Tina Fey’s Bossypants for later (I’ll keep you posted on how that goes). But more than that, it reminded me how laughter, even in the middle of a busy day, can make everything feel lighter and more manageable.

I want to be like that (at work and home) — full of laughter, connection, and lightness. And while I’m a firm believer that we never really grow up, maybe it’s time I stop waiting and start being like that right now. How can I bring more laughter, friendship, and connection into my day today? I don’t have all the answers yet, but I’m definitely pondering it (with coffee in hand, of course).

Here’s to more laughter and more moments that lift us up. I’m coming for you, joy (you’re my job!).

P.S. If you are a numbers and data person (like me), here's a notation from the National Library of Medicine:

Laughter as medicine: A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional studies evaluating the impact of spontaneous laughter on cortisol levels.

It lowers stress! We could all use some of that.