Bring some levity to your life. You take yourself — and most current events — too seriously. True, isn’t it? We are often dour beings. My life is the net sum of everything I truly know, yet this construction we call “my life” must contain an element of joy, even amusement. It cannot possibly be all activity and achievement. There has to be some fun, some humor. (1)
The other morning, on my way to work, I was stopped at a light, waiting to turn. Mornings are frenetic; many people are already slightly late and in a great hurry, like me. One individual ignored the light and turned illegally. The man beside me, on a scooter, exploded in rage. Curses followed curses — expletives filled the air. It was a display of pure frustration. I can’t believe that this one small incident alone nurtured such vitriol. This outbreak of anger had been festering for much longer and had undoubtedly been visited upon family, friends, and associates. Why? Is this mental illness? No. This poor soul is simply too serious about the tragedies that befall every person’s life: failed relationships, lost money, unfulfilled expectations, sudden illnesses, a terrible boss — the list is immeasurably long.
The only way we are going to get through this journey called life — and truly glean its wondrous moments — is to consciously stop and catch the moments that are racing past us. Most people, upon their deathbed, do not remember the huge amounts of money they made. They remember the intimate moments that validated their existence: the birth of a child, a sense of accomplishment after many years of struggle or study. (2) So it is important that we begin, on a daily basis, to remember our moments of joy and humor, alongside our physical achievements. I must become a humor hunter.
By actively seeking humor in everyday life, I begin to see that it is all around me. The man who signals right but turns left is an example. Normally, we would be furious with such behavior, but here our amusement can be based on the driver’s total lack of understanding of traffic rules or etiquette. The person who pushes past you in a line is another opportunity for humor. You do not have to “dress them down” or become incensed. You simply acknowledge their lack of societal decorum. They are, in effect, fools — much like the court jester of old — there to amuse and bring a moment of levity. As a humor hunter, I realize that many instances in life cause pain and emotional suffering, but they can also be seen differently — as moments of potential amusement. Think of the officious clerk or bureaucrat who carries an air of superiority and arrogance. The careful seriousness with which they hold their pen and glare at you should provoke a quiet laugh rather than anger. (3) And it goes on: the adolescent with the loud muffler racing up and down your street in the wee hours of the morning; the man who allows an elevator door to close in your face; the restless children on an airplane or in a church, behaving like marauding beasts. These could easily be added to your list.
This is not about deriding others for their actions — or inactions — especially when it comes to children and discipline. (4) It is about recognizing that most frustrations in life are trivial and unimportant. Frank A. Clark (5) leaves us with a thought: I think the next best thing to solving a problem is finding humor in it. What truly has value is my own self-development as a human being. I must eventually contribute to the Common Good.
A closing thought: We get caught up in the trivia of reality — the things we cannot change. By becoming a humor hunter, I begin to see life in a much more optimistic light. And life is, in fact, positive. Our society, though overwhelmed by Internet-related anguish and pain, is actually improving financially for the average human being across the planet. (6) The challenge now is not to become entangled in mediocrity. Excellence in achievement is being diminished at the individual level, replaced by “the idol” (7) and the search for new musical or sports messiahs.
By keeping our sense of humor, we will not succumb to the dark. We all ultimately want to live in the light — to see the joy, the amusement, and the quiet humor that coexist with life’s inevitable hardships. Sometimes, I must just stop, smile, and embrace the levity of the moment.
To sum up: This week, we spoke about finding humor in everyday actions in life.
To be noted: From Barbara Walters (8) — A good laugh makes any interview, or any conversation, so much better
Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS28jyW1bLY&list=RDBS28jyW1bLY&start_radio=1&t=668s
For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNRWMMuFz_o
This week, on your exuberant walk, please ponder the humor all around you.
Every day, look for something magical and beautiful.
Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!
Quote: Amusement will give much forgotten joy.
Footnotes:
1) https://www.today.com/video/why-you-should-add-more-humor-to-your-daily-life-234924101603
2) https://medium.com/@sinhasumant20/what-truly-matters-in-life-27a95364da14
4) https://ffe.org/importance-of-discipline-newsletter-april-2022/
5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_A._Clark
6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCm9Ng0bbEQ7) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIcqzY4_5vg