2016 has left a lot of us battered. We’ve experienced deep losses to the roster of our idols. The climate of sports, music, politics, and even relationships, has dramatically changed. We now face a future filled with what feels like overwhelming uncertainty. Mercury has been in constant retrograde. Things are spiraling out of control.
But, life has to go on. And as previous generations have faced forces that seemed as if they were outside of their purview, we too face our own. We will respond accordingly, sure. We will come together and be able to understand each other—maybe. For now, though, Twitter’s “Me at the beginning …” thread neatly summarizes our shared shock.
As silly as it sounds to rally behind and to find comfort in a Twitter trend, the catharsis provided by comedy is real and far from new. As LA-based comedian Michael Lucid puts it, “It’s a very true old adage that comedy works as a ‘healing balm.’” As a writer for the 2016 CBS Diversity Showcase and a UCB regular, Lucid is no stranger to the therapeutic benefits of a good laugh. As he tells GOOD,
Whenever my anxiety rises above its usual low hum to more of a teeth-gnashing hysteria, I find myself calmed by watching a funny video, reading some Twitter jokes, or enjoying a good ol’ Facebook meme. With laughter, I can feel the tension leaving my body. I get more perspective on whatever’s troubling me, and I can just let it go, buoyed by my newfound peace of mind … And these days, as the world seems to be crumbling around us, and a really dumb madman’s about to be officially named our president, we need more than ever to laugh, and feel healed and empowered to act in the world in meaningful, helpful ways.
Take a gander at our favorite moments from this latest trend, and may you find solace and maybe even inspiration in them—we certainly did.
Maybe It’s Been Rough
Or, Maybe, You’re Ready!
Maybe You Just Want It To Be Over
But We Survived
And We Just Might Be Able To Thrive
