Jupiter Was Just the Backdrop: How a Silly College Night Reminded Me to Embrace Life's Absurdities
Hahahahahaahhahahaha
I bet you didn't read that laughing.
Because laughing is a unique condition that occurs in the present moment.
Touched by humor, kindness, comedic sincerity or anything between, a laugh is hard to remove from context.
Close your eyes and think back to a time when you laughed so hard you cried. A full-bellied, shoulder-shaking, gasping for air laugh. The kind that only comes from true abandon, when you're so immersed in the absurdity of the moment that all other thoughts fall away.
It was junior year of college. My roommates and I were looking for Jupiter atop the Shrine Auditorium parking structure. The building sat juxtaposed to our off-campus apartment. We could see our tiny, shared bedrooms from the concrete slabbed concert hall. Gazing up at the night sky, we were mesmerized by the twinkling stars that stretched endlessly above us. The moon was magnetizing. We scrambled to capture the celestial scene, zooming in. We chuckled at our hopeless attempts to get a non-blurry photo of the microscopic wonder. As we scoured the horizon for any sign of Jupiter, a feeling of awe overcame us. We were struck by how small we were in the vast expanse of the universe.
As we descended, floor by floor, we found ourselves face to face with the iron gates. Our concern turned to curiosity as we wandered the concrete maze aimlessly until finding a way to slip through a gap to freedom.
Our escape sparked an explosion of delirious laughter that echoed through the empty parking structure. Doubling over in fits, wheezing until our cheeks hurt. The cold concrete amplified the cacophony of laughter as we stumbled giddily back to our apartment across the street.
In that shared moment of laughter, worries vanished. My swirling thoughts stilled, making space for joy. No more dwelling on a confusing text from my ex situationship earlier that day, or the morning exam awaiting me. Laughter has a way of returning us to right here, right now.
Laughter like that is a portal to presence. It instantly aligns your mind and body, anchors you firmly in the "now." In those fits of childlike abandon, you connect deeply with the people around you. And like a core memory orb from Inside Out, that joy radiates through your being long after the moment passes.
So try and infuse humor into ordinary interactions - tell jokes to the barista at your coffee shop, send funny texts to loved ones throughout the day, or suggest a board game night with friends. Lighthearted moments are all around us, we just have to remember to look.
Laughter reminds you not to take life so seriously. And the ability to be fully present is nourished by a sense of lightness and humor.
Thinking back now to that night on the parking garage, I realize it was never really about Jupiter or getting the perfect photo. What mattered was the shared joy and spontaneity of the experience. We didn't plan to embark on that mini-adventure, much like you can't plan the perfect belly laugh. The most carefree moments often come when you simply let go, embrace absurdity, and connect with those around you. That night lives so vividly in my memories because of the giddy abandon we allowed ourselves. The stars were just the backdrop for a deeper feeling – one of friendship, presence, and perfect joy.
So the next time you find yourself getting lost in worries about the past or future, remember the power of a good belly laugh. Seek out moments of humor, camaraderie, and play. Let go and allow mirth to overtake you. Feel the bliss of losing yourself completely to the present. Let laughter return you to the now.
