On Opinions, Laughter and Observing Life

Sometimes, there’s an urge to comment on the world around us.  I’ll say it up front, my goal is never to offend.  I understand that people have different sensitivities, and no matter where I land on the opinion spectrum, someone will always find something to disagree with.  That said, I’m well aware of the conversational third rails: sex, politics, and religion.  Which technically leaves me with the weather.  And while I’ll certainly talk about the weather when it matters, I won’t stop there.

Yes, I’ll touch on other topics, sometimes the ones we “shouldn’t” talk about.  I won’t pick sides.  I won’t preach.  But I will observe, reflect and occasionally be a bit irreverent.  Hopefully, I’ll also make it a little fun along the way.

Earlier this week, CNN ran a story on laughter.  According to them, children laugh around 400 times a day.  Adults?  Just 15.  Laughter, it turns out, is good for our health.  It reduces stress by lowering cortisol and boosts our mood through increased serotonin.  Basically, it works like a natural antidepressant.  It sounds great in theory, but life gets busy and those simple joys slip away from us.

I’m no comedian and I won’t pretend to be one.  I won’t focus on humor here.  I know exactly one clown joke and maybe I’ll share it one day, if the topic ever comes up.  Humor isn’t the focus of this blog, but you’ll still find it here.  I can’t help that.

What I truly enjoy is observing the world.  Sometimes, things happen that are so strange or unexpected, they just stick with you, demanding to be shared.  Those are the moments I’ll write about most often.  My intention isn’t to criticize, but to explore, to question and to understand.  As a scientist, observation is one of my strongest tools.  Understanding?  That part takes work.  Sometimes, it never comes.

If this blog has a purpose, it’s to help me think through writing.  Not about science necessarily, but about life.  Because more than anything else, I am a student of life.

Observe