When the world seems like it's going to hell in a hand basket, as it so often does these days, what's a person to do?
The world recently. Artist's rendering. GIF via NinersNation/Giphy.
Basically, you've got three options.
You can hide under the covers.
Who can judge? Photo via iStock.
You can move to a desert island.
Until the desert island is swallowed up by climate change and you're forced to move back. Photo by Timo Newton-Syms/Flickr.
Or ... you can take a page from Candace Payne's playbook, put on a talking Chewbacca mask, and laugh your ass off.
Witness her epic reaction when she dons the birthday present she bought herself, realizes that Wookiee sounds come out every time she opens her mouth, and proceeds to explode in a fireball of joyous laughter.
Let's count the ways in which this woman is awesome, shall we?
Photo by Candace Payne/Facebook.
Way #1. She bought the mask for herself, not for her kids.
Photo by Candace Payne/Facebook.
Sure, she acknowledges (and accepts) that they'll most likely steal it at some point in the future, but for now, it's mom's time in the Chewbacca mask, and no one can take that away from her.
No. One.
Way #2. She is endlessly delighted by the Wookiee sounds coming out of the mask. Endlessly.
GIF via Candace Payne/Facebook.
As she should be, as a mask that makes Wookiee sounds is the most delightful invention in the history of mankind (sorry, water slides!)
Way #3. She isn't afraid to laugh as long and as loud as humanly possible.
GIF via Candace Payne/Facebook.
You ever have one of those moments where something so funny happens that you feel like you're never going to stop laughing? That's her.
Thankfully, she's got the appropriate amount of shame about it, which is none.
It can be easy to get down about the state of the world.
War. Poverty. Famine. Plane crashes. Terrorism. Climate change. Racism. Sexism. Homophobia. The Minnesota Twins this season.
The bad things can feel overwhelming sometimes.
But hey, if it ain't happening right now to you, that's a victory.
That's why when the good stuff happens — like randomly finding the world's best Chewbacca mask — you gotta embrace it.
Happy weekend!