Approximately 300 laughs a day for a 4 year old, and about 4 per day for a 40 year old. That's a serious difference, and a sad one. I believe that difference has much to do with our internalized "shoulds." Shoulds are obligations, and obligation takes the laughter and fun out of most anything. At some point long ago I realized that shoulds are an imposition coming from inside me or outside me, and they say I'm forced and not free. Shoulds disempower. We like to pretend we're powerless victims, but we're not. I gave up shoulds. I stopped telling myself I'm forced. I stopped saying should and started saying I will or I won't or I choose, whichever was true, and that was empowering. Cultivating that habit supports what really matters, which is to be free and responsible, and it results in more laughter and lightness in me.
On Aug 23, 2025 David Doane wrote :