Originally when asked the question “what is most important to me?” laughing is the first thing that came to mind. I didn’t feel like this topic was “deep” enough and it certainly wouldn’t grant me entry to the Stanford MBA program, so I started writing about something else. My mind kept coming back to laughing and how my relationships, my work and my life revolve around things that make me laugh. So after writing a 500-word essay on another topic, I decided to start from scratch and write about what is really important to me.
I am known for my laugh, it starts out as a high pitch scream and than often ends with me gasping for breath. I realize that this is not the most pleasant sound but I know that my laugh is contagious so I will accept a stranger’s glare if it makes another person feel the happiest I feel when I laugh.
My laugh has an identity of it’s own and is often recognized before my physical characteristics. Earlier this week I was on the bus when I noticed an old friend sitting behind me, immediately I apologized for not recognizing him and he responded, “I knew it was you, I heard your cackle as soon as you got on the bus”. My laugh is no longer just a laugh it is a cackle. I am aware that this word draws comparisons to a Harry Potter character and some might even be offended but I embrace it.
I am drawn to people who bring the cackle out in me. My friends comprise of some of the funniest people in the world...yes the entire world. However, my family takes the cake for the amount of laughs ever produced, our home is literally a laugh factory. A typical evening at the McGraw household involves jokes made at my father’s expensive and laughter induced stomach pains that won’t stop no matter how hard we try. Sometimes I wish I could bottle the sounds and emotions in our house and save that bottle for a rainy day, cheesy I know but true. I honestly believe that the hilarity of my friends and family is a contributing factor to my happiness.
The magic of laughter has taught me incredibly important life lessons. One lesson that continues to resonate was following the death of my grandmother who suffered from a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. My dad took on the responsibility of primary caretaker, so her death was particularly hard for him and our family. Following the funeral the six brothers and sisters reunited at our house, opened a couple bottles of Crown Royal, reminisced about their mother and laughed for hours. A perfect example that laughter (and booze) is the best medicine!
I understand that there are times in my life that will call for seriousness but the moments that don’t I hope I can spend with a smile on my face, a high pitched scream and gasping for air :)
