They say that laughter is the best medicine. Many of us can use a good laugh these days, and for some, hearing the audience laugh at their jokes is the elixir they have needed to keep them buoyed at a later moment in life. We seem to be in an era where there’s been a rise of “older” comedians, some of whom have done comedy for years but only recently hit their stride, while others have taken the risk of putting it all out there on a stage after previous careers and life experiences that are long gone. They now have little left to lose- and much to gain- by taking to the stage and making people laugh.

Take, for example, the group of older female comedians recently profiled in the Los Angeles Times. These 6 older women may defy the usual stereotypes of what a comedian is supposed to look like or talk about, but they are chock-full of funny stories and newfound confidence that audiences are lapping up. With its low costs of entry and rising availability of venues and platforms, stand-up comedy may be just the opportunity that older women can use to shake off their invisibility and explore the freedom and acceptance that comes with a laughing audience. To hear their own words about why they’ve embarked on this path, click here.

Or, for some rollicking good laughs that we can all likely relate to, meet Andy Huggins, the 73-year-old comedy phenomenon who’s been doing stand-up for 40 years and finally just got his own comedy special, Early Bird, which is available on many streaming platforms. You can watch the trailer here. He’s been described as funny and endearing at the same time, as he gently pokes fun at his age and limitations in a way that most, if not all, older adults can understand (and laugh at). As Huggins states, “I sit down and write what I’m familiar with, and age is inescapable.” To keep up with his comedy, you can follow Huggins on Instagram and Facebook. As Charlie Chaplin once said, “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” Since none of us has time to waste, get started and get laughing by watching Andy Huggins here.