THE FEAR OF TOMORROW: Should Laughter Have Limits?

by Shred Shreedhar

A friend visited me recently, and as we reminisced about our childhood in Trivandrum, we recalled a saying that felt so familiar yet peculiar: "Don’t laugh too much today, or you might cry tomorrow"— കൂടുതൽ ചിരിക്കെണ്ട, നാളെ കരയേണ്ടി വരും (kooduthal chirikkenda, nalle karayeendi varum).

This was a phrase I often heard from my mother whenever I laughed too loudly or celebrated even the smallest achievements. Behind her words, I sensed a shadow of fear—a premonition that stopped her from fully embracing the happiness of the moment.

At first, I thought this was unique to her, a reflection of her own anxieties. However, as I grew older and spoke to friends, I realised this belief was not uncommon. It seemed to linger in many households, a shared cultural thread rooted in fear and caution.

A Culture of Caution

The reasoning behind this belief remains unclear to me. Perhaps it stems from a collective fear of fate or a desire to prepare for life's uncertainties. However, it often feels like it hinders us from living in the present, celebrating our joys, and fully embracing happiness.

I once questioned my mother about it during a disagreement. “If tomorrow brings tears,” I asked, “should I stop crying because it might make me laugh the next day?” She didn’t have a clear answer. Her silence reflected the tension between tradition and the possibility of a more liberating perspective.

The Case for Unrestrained Joy

Life is inherently unpredictable, no matter how much we prepare for it. In that unpredictability lies the value of each joyful moment. A silly joke that makes us laugh, a small achievement that brings pride, or a shared smile that warms the heart—all these moments are fleeting but priceless.

To deny ourselves these experiences because of old beliefs feels like a disservice to the gift of life. Instead of tempering happiness in fear of what tomorrow might bring, why not embrace it fully? After all, laughter and joy today do not diminish our ability to face the challenges of tomorrow—they strengthen it.

Living in the Present

Outdated notions that tether our joy to fear of the future serve only to hold us back. The ability to live in the moment, to laugh and celebrate without hesitation, is a powerful antidote to life’s inevitable uncertainties. When tomorrow arrives, we’ll face it with the resilience built from today’s happiness.

Perhaps the lesson lies in finding balance: acknowledging the uncertainties of life but choosing not to let them overshadow the beauty of the present. In the end, laughter is not just an expression of joy—it’s an act of defiance against the unknown.