Happiness is something we all pursue, but sometimes we take it too seriously. Some people treat happiness as a goal to be achieved, while others treat happiness as if it is a key business performance indicator. But in doing so, we miss the things that make us happy. Humor, play, silliness, and connection often sneak up on us when we’re not trying so hard.
Years ago, one of my favorite comedy sketches came from “Monty Python’s Flying Circus.” In “The Ministry of Silly Walks,” John Cleese exaggeratedly marched across the stage, his long legs swinging in awkward arcs. It was ridiculous and brilliant, and it made people laugh.
Before Monty Python, I grew up loving the Marx Brothers. Harpo, the silent clown with the mischievous grin, was my favorite. In one scene, when a hobo asked him for a dime for a cup of coffee, Harpo reached into his oversized coat and pulled out an actual steaming cup of coffee. That kind of absurd, unexpected humor still makes me smile.
I never connected with the Three Stooges, but my college roommate was obsessed. In fact, he occasionally appeared on television as a Stooges expert. At night, he would break into his Moe, Larry and Curly routines as I tried to sleep. Even though their slapstick wasn’t my style, he had me laughing despite myself. He knew he’d succeeded when he saw my body shaking with stifled giggles under the covers.
(Drew Penner / Los Gatan)
Somewhere along the way, that kind of carefree laughter became less common. Maybe that’s the reality of adulthood, or maybe it’s the times we live in with more stress, more news, less silliness. Or maybe our humor evolves as we age.
However, laughter often shows up in new places. For me, it can happen at Rotary Club of Los Gatos meetings. My fiancée, Lissa, a former radio host, has sharp wit and impeccable timing. She can’t resist tossing in a quip that leaves everyone laughing. The running joke is that she and the microphone should be kept apart. That, of course, only makes her funnier. And while I try to keep up, she’s the star comedian in our household.
Happiness indeed is often about pausing to enjoy the laughter right in front of us.
Urban legend holds that children laugh about 400 times a day, while adults average closer to 15. UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center reports that shared laughter improves mood and strengthens social bonds, lowers stress and helps people recover from conflict more quickly. In other words, laughter is medicine, community glue, and resilience rolled into one.
Here in Los Gatos, we don’t need a formal “Ministry of Silly Walks.” We already have many opportunities for joy. Stroll through Oak Meadow Park and you’ll hear the laughter of children on the carousel or the Billy Jones Railroad Train. Walk downtown on a Friday night and you’ll catch families and friends swapping jokes over dinner. Even at our Town Council meetings, you’ll occasionally hear a witty aside that lightens the tone of serious deliberations.
As a community, we sometimes underestimate the value of humor. We devote endless energy to traffic, housing and policy debates. These are important issues, but how often do we stop to ask: are we also making room for happiness?
Happiness is a collection of small moments strung together. A joke told at the right time, a silly family ritual, or a shared smile with a neighbor may not solve our biggest challenges, but they make those challenges easier to bear. Humor reminds us we’re not alone. And it often gives us a fresh perspective on problems that seem immovable.
In Los Gatos, those small moments add up. Whether it’s Music in the Park, the holiday parade, a Rotary gathering, or simply bumping into someone at the farmers’ market, laughter is never far away if we allow ourselves to notice it.
Life will always provide reasons to frown. But happiness means balancing hardship with doses of levity, humor, and human connection.
We may not all be Marx Brothers or Monty Python, but we all have the power to make someone laugh. And in doing so, we make Los Gatos a little happier.
So next time you’re downtown, at a park, or in a meeting, don’t hold back the smile or the silly comment. Happiness often starts with the sound of laughter.
