Don’t Forget To Laugh

My grandmother, Sylvia Nagin, who died this year, sadly, at the very sprightly age of 99, was a real inspiration to me. She had certain catchphrases that I will never forget. One of those was “laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone.”

Coping during difficult times

Some may find this harsh. But then, so was her background. She grew up very poor, sleeping in the living room of a small one-room apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with her sister and other relatives, and her family could not afford to send her to college. The Great Depression was on and they struggled to survive.

She worked after school, as a bookkeeper in a fashion house and as a model, giving the money she earned to her parents so they could pay rent. Her father, meanwhile, my great grandfather, had a stroke and became a cripple. Despite physical limitations, he managed to drive stick shift and run a fruit produce stand.

She recounted stories, often, such as one time when her family got robbed and another time when someone accidentally threw out false teeth of her grandma and they frantically searched the trash (the cost was so expensive it seemed a family tragedy). She said that, what made the difficulties they endured easier, was the way they all laughed at the plight they were in.

Laughter as a form of medicine for IBD

Should it be any different for those with IBD? Maybe it’s because I’m a comedian, not sure, but I always found laughter to be excellent medicine. It helps us feel better about ourselves and realize our helplessness before forces beyond our control. It also is a way to take back our power, to not let disease defeat us, and to retain an inner strength.

I have been using humor as a coping mechanism all my life. I’ve been a comedian for nearly fourteen years as well as a humor writer. My latest book, “Do Not Feed The Clown,” was therapeutic for me, as it enabled me to take back my own power, assert my vision, and have a voice. Standup comedy, too, when I get to perform it, can really be a great way to relate to others and gain a wider sense of perspective.

Similarly, my involvement with the Gotham Comedy Foundation (gothamcomedyfoundation.org), where, for many years, I was a Talent And Show Coordinator, was very healing. The organization brings comics into cancer centers and senior homes to perform free of charge. Supporting the mission of this foundation, and putting on benefits, was a terrific way to give back, to emphasize the power of laughter, and to not get defeatist.

Humor has been healing to deal with Crohn's

Finally, I used humor in an original comedic rap video I created on Crohn’s disease, which was screened at a benefit for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s Long Island Chapter. In sum, then, I believe I have followed my grandma’s advice...and found ways to laugh at my circumstances. It’s been incredibly healing! Thanks for reading, and, as always, feel free to comment!