Fun in the Discomfort

Richard Crowley faced events that others might view as traumatic or even life-destroying. The loss of his father to cancer during an important formative age was one such event. Like any young adolescent, Richard was emotionally ill-equipped to handle the uncertainty, the overwhelming details, and the sense of hopelessness. Life began to spiral into moments of despair, even suicidal ideation, until he experienced something profound.It was during his father's funeral when something unexpected happened. Surrounded by saddened family and friends, Richard witnessed a remarkable event: a couple of elderly relatives shared outlandish and funny stories of his father in his youth. Instead of mourners sharing sympathies, they shared silly memories to break up the tears of pain. The laughter lit up the darkness, providing a reminder that even in the depths of grief, there is a sliver of light. This event sparked a personal revelation that in the darkest moments of life, fun, and even silliness can power up the psyche to get through even the most difficult of times.As life presented Richard with difficult challenges, he found refuge and recovery through practiced survival techniques. Join Richard as he chronicles his most painful memories and the incredible survival skills he employed to infuse fun and productive entertainment to overcome them. These transformative events provided him with resilience and positive mental attitude to lead a fulfilling and inspiring life.