The joyous titles of two new TV offerings are "The Slap" and "Secrets and Lies." Apparently the key to local TV news ratings success is which station can create the grimmest story. The national political debate makes any of the Real Housewives, in comparison, look downright genteel.
Seriously. . .how did we get to be so serious?
We need to get our funny back. We need to find. . .and celebrate. . .and laugh out loud at the things that make life quirky or odd or novel. We need to recognize the bizarre. . .and treat it as such. We need to isolate minor problems for what they are. . .minor. . .and manufactured drama for what it is. . .unreal.
If you're stuck in the abyss of somewhere between worry and despair. . .here's a few ideas..
As you mull over the many dimensions of the latest challenge that just unfolded in your office. . .ask yourself "What's funny about this?" I recently had someone verbally vomit in my office. I was so taken back I just wanted to hide for the remainder of the day. . .until I recounted the conversation and looked for what was amusing. Trust me. . .there was plenty. In retrospect, the individual's stories were so inconsistent to one another that I cannot recount the monologue without laughing.
Bring a little joy. . .and lot of perspective to what you do. Chances are that whatever you face isn't nearly as bad as some of the headline-grabbing news. . .and probably not nearly as serious as some of the challenges your team faces. In the end. . .you can do this.
Embrace historical stories that make you laugh. Trust me, it's been many decades since I've been in high school, but I still remember the op/ed piece written by two rogue writers, "Student Council: Farce on School." Still cracks me up to this day. (Okay, as do any number of scenes from that classic movie, "Airplane."). Somehow when I recount these things, and laugh about the silliness, it puts my life back into perspective.
The point is, let's not get so lost in the drama that we neglect to both be and have fun. Seriously.
Like it? Laugh!
My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
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