Laughing at Ourselves

 
Have you done enough “stupid things” in your life to have learned to laugh at yourself? I sure have. Years ago whenever I embarrassed myself to death I would inwardly laugh and say, “Well, Jean, Old Gal, you’ve made a complete fool of yourself again. But you’ve done it so often already one more time won’t make any difference.” It was a liberating thought.

Now I mostly don’t even waste energy feeling embarrassed. I figure we’re all a bunch of nuts, why should I be any different?

What about you? Do you think we humans take ourselves too seriously?

Thanks to Looney, Evan, Grannymar, bikehikebabe, Mike, Rummuser and Cathy for commenting on last week’s post.

9 comments ↓

#1 Evan on 11.20.09 at 6:58 am

Nope. Still working on this one – my tendency is still to be too heavy.

#2 Jean on 11.20.09 at 4:04 pm

Evan,
Sometimes it’s a lot easier than at other times. I keep practicing because the payoff is so huge.

#3 bikehikebabe on 11.20.09 at 6:52 pm

Yes, we take ourselves too seriously. That’s why we can laugh later, but not when it happens.

#4 Cathy in NZ on 11.21.09 at 1:11 am

I see it all the time, in my craft arena. People get all serious because there ‘work’ is not as well finished or put together as someone elses’ – they can always tell you exactly where it is wrong…even if it looks great!

I nearly ask them a few questions including “are you entering a competition, judged exhibition or is it for a present?” Both will require a different standard of workmanship. If it’s a keeper, will you enjoy it even with your preceived faults.

I remember for eons I produced for re-sale a nice patterned woven scarf – my pals all raved about it because they couldn’t figure out what the actual pattern was! I never told them, but I made a mistake in the threading up but because it turned out OK – I continued to production weave them until I chose to rethread the loom :-)

I usually spring cleaned my looms once a year…taking all the threadings out and finding another ‘pattern’ – more than likely a mistake threading for the coming years!
.-= Cathy in NZ´s last blog ..summaries of enrolled courses 2010 =-.

#5 Jean on 11.21.09 at 3:04 am

bikehikebabe,
I’m far from perfect at it but I try to see the humor as soon as possible. That’s why I taught those classes and led those groups…they reminded me to practice what I preached.

Cathy,
What a neat story! Thank you.

#6 Rummuser on 11.22.09 at 3:36 am

Jean, it would appear that you are psychic! I have just posted about 34 questions in my blog which answers you and also incorporates the wonderful cartoon. In short, yes. I try not to and succeed most of the time.
.-= Rummuser´s last blog ..34 Questions. =-.

#7 Jean on 11.24.09 at 1:19 am

Rummuser,
I enjoyed your post. :)

#8 sarah on 12.12.09 at 12:32 pm

Oh thank goodness for this post – having just embarrassed myself by being emotionally nuts in front of my neighbours finding this was very freeing.

#9 Jean on 12.12.09 at 3:32 pm

sarah,
I’m glad it helped.

My post next Monday at Cheerful Monk is entitled We’re All a Bunch of Nuts. It’s on the same subject. I write these posts to keep reminding myself. ;)

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