MemChurch Daily
March 23, 2021
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PRACTICING HOPE
The daily newsletter of the Memorial Church
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Dear friends,
Today we are delighted to share with you a reflection by Claire Fridkin '21 of Dunster House in our Virtual Senior Talks series of 2021. Senior Talks are a beloved annual tradition in which each House at the College is invited to nominate a senior to offer a Morning Prayers address. We are honored to continue this tradition virtually this year by way of uplifting their reflections in our Daily Devotional. Thank you Claire, today we celebrate you and all your fellow Dunster House seniors!
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The Memorial Church of Harvard University
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SENIOR TALKS
Claire Fridkin '21, Dunster House
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By Claire Fridkin '21
When I began research on the psychology of humor for my thesis in early 2020, I had no idea that my findings would become so relevant to my well-being. But when the pandemic hit, humor became necessary in ways that I never could have expected.
It feels like the hardships of this past year have been endless: we have endured anxiety, grief, stress, and economic hardship, and it often feels like the only certainty is uncertainty. Although at times it has been hard for me to find direction, I have found that, even in this time of crisis, finding humor and levity has been essential to my physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing.
Although there is nothing funny about the current moment, comedy can allow us to reclaim some of what we have lost to this pandemic. Taking cues from improvisational comedy’s foundational idea of “yes, and,” which accepts what another participant has stated ("yes") and expands on that idea (“and”), we can learn to accept and adapt to an unpredictable situation — a practice that has become all too familiar in the pandemic. Humor can give us control where we are otherwise powerless by enabling us to reframe and reclaim our situations.
And most importantly, humor allows us to connect with our loved ones. Laughter is much more enjoyable when shared in the presence of others. And just because we need to social distance does not mean we need to isolate — when I am able to share a joke or reminisce on fun times over a Zoom call or on a masked walk, I am reminded of how thankful I am for the good times I have had and of how much I have to be grateful for.
Like many of my peers, I am devastated that my time at Harvard was cut short - I lost almost a third of my in-person college experience to the pandemic. But when I reflect on the amazing collective experiences I did have — running through the Yard on Housing Day, leading pitch meetings for Harvard’s satire magazine, learning to row with my IM crew team, or even just late nights studying with friends in my dorm — I am hopeful for what is yet to come. Humor inspires me to keep going until we get there.
Claire is from Chicago, Ill., where she attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. At Harvard, she studies psychology and is the former Editor-in-Chief of Satire V. She also enjoys going for runs along the Charles and cooking vegetarian dishes with her roommates.
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