Years ago a close friend of mine from college taught me about the good laugh and the bad laugh. The bad laugh, he explained, is when the joke is at someone else’s expense. The good laugh is when everyone can take part in the laughter. From my perspective, it’s the difference between taking something from someone and giving something to them.

Today is my funniest friend’s 50th birthday. He has mastered the good laugh. Almost everything he says is delivered with humor. He constantly has us in stitches with his stories and his perspective on our world. He manages to always place himself, or the irony of the situation, at the center of the joke. He never uses his gift to make someone else feel less-than or humiliated. And his humor can magically make the people around him feel better about themselves. 

We all know what it feels like to be hurt by a joke. Daniel, either consciously or unconsciously, has chosen to use his humor to heal. If he wasn’t already in our lives, we’d still be out there looking for him. He’s that kind of special. And the example he sets about what it means to be funny is a treasure to both children and adults alike.

Thank you Daniel for all of the healing joy. We love you.

~Happy Birthday Buddy~