What if we’re all April fools?

I read once that you can measure the level of anxiety in a room by the amount of laughter you hear. That you can literally judge the health of an individual by their ability to laugh at themselves. Sure, making light of life isn't always the most healthy way to cope. Still, I don't think I've ever come close to a dangerous level of "too much fun." In fact, I'm usually toeing the line of "takes life too seriously" over "please be more serious here."

So, I was thinking about the word fool and all those negative definitions attached to it. I mean, I’ve never heard someone use the word as a compliment right? But I checked my dictionary and found a hidden gem between the lines that redefined the word for me-

fool: noun/informal A person devoted to a particular activity.

And that's where everything changed. I think I might actually be signing up to be foolish. That’s right, take a good hard look at my life and then call me a fool and I’ll welcome it with a grin! Because this year, this month, these next 30 days ahead of me, I think I'd like to try to devote myself to being a bit more…silly. Instead of shaking my head at all the jokesters, I think I'd like to try joining in on the fun. I want to be breezy. I want to ooze joy. I want to laugh at myself and go with the flow and take things in stride and live with more abandon. I want to be the biggest fool for April. 

So, I'm committing myself to the art of being lighthearted for the whole month, and I'm eagerly watching to see what happens. And since this is where I'm headed, and you signed up for this ride, I guess it means I'm taking you with me- welcome to the Fool Zone.

I suppose if we're gonna get better at this 'not taking life so seriously' stuff, we better talk to someone who is better at it than we are, and it just so happens that I know the perfect guy- my little brother Jackson (littler solely because he's 2 1/2 years my junior). Jackson's been my bigger in so many ways- he's a dreamer, he's a go-getter, and boy is he a laugher- it's contagious. And he's been pulling me up and out of my serious since I can remember.

We were pretty much inseparable for the first few decades of life—bonded besties from thestart. We were never great at fighting- there was too much fun on the agenda. If we weren't barreling down the laundry shoot onto a questionable mattress, then we were getting stuck in trees, watching my grandpa's favorite old television shows, or taking our monthly trip up to Seattle on the train to visit our dad. When I started elementary school and left him at home all day, my friends became his friends. When I went through a tough breakup in college, his friends became my friends. We were roommates pretty much our entire lives, save one winter that he moved into an icy apartment with his buddies, and we married our better halves just a few months apart when I was 25, and he was 23. That summer was thefirst time we'd really separated- heading off on our own adventures for the first time with new built-in best friends.

There was no shortage of challenges that we faced together, but I honestly don't remember many tears- and I credit that to Jackson. He doesn't say mad for long, he's spontaneous and doesn't get embarrassed easily, and when things are tense- he knows how to call out the junk in the room, bring in a little humor, and move on with grace. I remember one particular day in high school. I was in a whiney teenage mood, and he was mimicking all of my complaints in this super annoying voice that sounded way too much like me, which made me mad. Really mad. I got so angry that I bottled up all of my angst, turned my body to the side in a bizarre angle, and kicked him as hard as I could. The only problem was that I missed. He gasped and looked at me with shock in his eyes. We had never tried to physically hurt each other before, but a few short moments later, when my remorse started creeping in, he busted up laughing. The kind where you crumple to the floor and slap your knee and point as the tears come streaming out your squinted eyelids. He gave me a high five for trying and then spent the rest of the day reenacting my puny punt, which had us all rolling, any trace of frustration left far behind.

What a gift to the world to be light-hearted.

I had a chat with Jackson a few weeks ago about how he works with laughter to keep theheavy at bay, and I know you will be encouraged by his insights. Enjoy my conversation with Jackson below:

Since I have the honor of saying I've known you from day one, I can attest to the fact that you came into this world ready to have some fun. Have you always enjoyed making people smile? Where did that come from?

We definitely lived in a house where we joked around and laughed a lot, and joy became a big part of my life pretty young. We watched a lot of funny movies. Sang a lot of funny songs. Grandpa told a lot of jokes. But I actually remember being pretty shy around new people when I was younger. Something clicked around 9 or 10- that making people laugh & smile was really fun. And so I just kept doing it.

You've definitely reached an expert level. What are a few of your favorite go-to ways to make someone smile?

The secret is to do everyday things in ways that aren't typically done. I've been known to honk my horn for an excessively long time until it gets so uncomfortable for the person in the passenger seat that they can't help but laugh. I like to go in elevators backward. If I am at a sporting event and everyone is cheering, I will cheer too, but I'll make a funny noise that's different from everyone else's, which makes us all question why we are yelling in the first place- then we all laugh at ourselves together. Taking little unplanned moments to laugh at amusing things in life- there's no shortage of them.

Oh, jeez. The honking. You've had one hand on that horn since you turned 16. I'm impressed that you still do it- forever young at heart. How have you kept laughter a part of your life as you've matured?

I've noticed that my environment can really sway my mood. So I work to be the light in a grey place. And I also gravitate toward other people I think are fun, spontaneous, have good senses of humor, and of course, the ones that will laugh at my own stupid jokes.

I make it a habit to find the laughter in a room and get close to it. Joy seems to have a magnetic field that pulls people in. You can hear it and see it. If you struggle to find joy in your own head, just open your ears and listen for it. Let it pull you in and move closer. That always helps me.

That's such solid advice. As we get older, we have to be really mindful of what we let into our lives. Adulting brings plenty of responsibility which means it can get super serious super fast. I can see how important it would be to actively choose people and places that will add joy. When you get to a place where you feel stuck in the serious, how do you take your first step out towards joy? 

You've got to break up the routine and do something in the moment that you would never normally do or say. Sometimes I can get into a rut with all the things I have to do, but all I need to do to find some traction is to remember that for most of what I do, I am choosing to do it- which means I can make a different choice. Doing something random and unexpected can shift my mood to one of joy, and most of the time, all I really need is a quick, funny change in my schedule to bring a quick, fun change in my heart.

That's so good! And pertinent to a lot of weary souls who feel pretty stuck at the tail end of this pandemic. Is there anything else you would say to those of us who find ourselves in a hard season or who tend to take life too seriously?

Man, I feel you. I've been there. Many, many times this past year even. Some days aren't fun days. But at the end of the day, you get one chance to live it.

Laughter may not heal everything, but it does bring perspective to me. There's nothing like finding something really funny or joyful to lift you up when you're in a discouraged or frustrated place.

It's weird to think about being intentional with having fun and laughing, but it does take some work. For me, finding things that bring me joy and laughing about them helps me keep a positive mindset and tends to help me have more fun days than what would naturally happen left to chance. When I look around, there are plenty of things to smile and laugh at and plenty of light-hearted, fun people to share them with. All it takes is a little effort to look for them and then a little bravery to let go and laugh at them.

Ah yes, there's the encouragement we need. May we be dedicated to finding the laughter in life and courageous enough to join in the fun. May we be foolish fools for a light-hearted life of joy.

Want to have some fun with Jackson?

Check out his website, dance with him on YouTube, and keep up with him on social media.