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 giving something to someone versus taking it from them.

Today is my funniest friend’s 50th birthday and he is a master of the good laugh. Almost everything he says is delivered with humor. He constantly has us in stitches with his stories and his way of seeing the world. He always places himself, or the irony of the situation at the center. He never makes someone else feel less-than or humiliated. His humor makes the people around him feel better about who they are or the situation they’re in. 

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 for us about what it means to be funny is a gift to both children and adults alike.

Thank you Daniel for all of the healing joy. Happy Birthday, Buddy. We love you.