Human beings take themselves very seriously, as a general rule. We need look no further than Twitter to see the proof of that statement. Although I can see the value of Twitter if you are in a meeting, and want to send brief content summaries to people not in attendance, I can't see the value of knowing Lindsay Lohan's every thought or movement.
Applications such as Foursquare, which automatically report our location to our entire social network, are further evidence that we have very little sense of perspective on our own place in this universe. Perhaps even the smug assumption that writing a blog is worth the time for someone else to read is another symptom of the natural narcissism of our culture.
I generally try to maintain a sense of humor about life, because, as the old saying goes, you either laugh or you cry. I prefer to laugh. It's not always easy, especially when it comes to laughing at myself, but I try, anyway, because I hate crying. Although I've been doing a lot of that lately, what with the many changes that have already hit and will continue to occur in my household over the next few months.
However, it is always easier to laugh at someone else's troubles than it is to laugh at one's self. For example, if you see someone trip over a curb, you may initially make sure they are okay, but then you will laugh. If it's your relative or friend, you will probably laugh harder. But how do you react when it's you that is looking foolish or silly?
I got to thinking about that this morning when I read a post on my Facebook that one of my daughter's friends had posted to her wall. Teenagers are especially susceptible to taking themselves too seriously, I think. They are so worried about being seen as adults and being taken seriously by others that they forget a lot of life is nonsense, and they don't have enough fun.
The website to which my daughter's friend was referring is one where people post silly things designed to make themselves look foolish in order to make other people laugh at them. I like the trend. Even if anonymous, it is not only allowing, but actually encouraging, teens to see the embarrassing things that happen and to share them with others so they can all have a good laugh at themselves together.
Most of the stuff that gets posted is not that funny, and a lot of it is made up, simply to see what they can come up with. But I still like the idea of a website where people can make fun of themselves for the entertainment of others, with everyone having a good laugh as the outcome.
It makes a nice contrast to incidents like the recent suicides we have heard about, where kids felt so bullied by other teens that they literally couldn't bear their lives any more and ended them. The tragedies in these situations don't need elucidation. We all know it's a bad thing when a 15 or 16 year old thinks life is so terrible there is no point in waiting for something better to come along.
We live in serious times, and there are a lot of serious issues to deal with in most households. Unemployment is high, and even in households where they are employed, people are working longer hours, doing more work for less pay, and generally more stressed about everything. People are taking less vacation time, they are doing less for fun and relaxation, and they are taking themselves and life more seriously all the time.
So, in the effort to spread the laughter around, here is my anecdote for today. Several years ago, we went to Mexico on vacation. We were all laying by the large pool when an attractive young woman came walking towards us on her way to get a beverage to drink. I saw heads turning from way down at the other end of the pool, and a wave of snickering behind her, but couldn't really see what was so funny until the woman was in front of me. That was when I realized that she was letting it all hang out, literally and unintentionally.
Even as I laughed along, I found it fascinating that not one person told her. Including me. We all watched her walk by, and we all laughed and stared, but no one stopped her to tell her of her embarrassing situation. At least, until she got into the poolside bar, where the bartender spilled the bad news. We were sitting close enough for me to see her reaction, and it was clear that she had no idea of the show she had been putting on for our benefit. That might have been the funniest part of all, truthfully. It was like a comedy sketch, with her facial expressions worthy of Buster Keaton.
On her return trip, a long walk, I'm sure, she was blushing, but seemed to have a sense of humor about it. I imagine the beverage she had in hand may have helped ease the situation a little, but I suspect that mostly, she just had a sense of humor about herself. I would bet that she now tells that story to others, and has a good laugh about it every time.
There is an old saying, laughter is the best medicine. I think that is a prescription we all need to take, each and every day. Forget apples. Maybe it's really a laugh a day that keeps the doctor at bay.
