This is my response to the article "The Curse of Always Being Happy” by Qigong and Kung Fu master John Munro.

This is a subject that I have personally been thinking about a lot lately. 

For me, there is no light without dark. No up without down. No Yin without Yang, hot/cold, day/night, right/left, male/female (In general. Exceptions acknowledged and honored).

It is when we are stuck in our emotions that it becomes a great challenge. 

When the pendulum swings wildly one way, it will swing wildly in another. 

We talk incessantly about being happy, and looking for happiness.   

What about the ease of being content? A very mild, pleasant  sensation. Much like the theory of neutral talked about in the article. 

Have you ever noticed how feeling ecstatic can make your heart race and make your actions very amplified? 

Have you also noticed how anxiety, too, can make your heart race, make you frenetic, or active in an entirely different way? 

These are both still very heightened states of emotional or physical response.

Being more “neutral” helps us remain more unattached in differing situations. 

I look at it as going with the flow. 

As teachers it is crucial that we go with the flow. No two classes are the same, no students are the same, no responses to the material are the same. 

Remaining flexible in these environments makes for better classes and better teachers. If we are constantly in states of heightened emotions it is not good for us or our students.

“Put on a happy face” or “Don’t worry, be happy” may not always be  the best course of action. 

We have all known someone who just puts on a happy face all the time.  They are exhausted putting up a happy front BUT they are not truly happy inside. Do they feel they need to maintain the facade because that is what they feel is expected of them? (That is classic people pleasing behavior.)

Everyone has a less than perfect day. All the teachers we look up to: Gandhi, Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Martin Luther King, Jr. etc. expressed and express themselves sometimes with passion and sometimes with dismay.   However, there is still a calm running parallel to that expression.  There may be anger, frustration, pain, elation, jubilation and ecstasy but the way it is expressed is gently, lovingly, firmly with reserve and self-control.

Additionally, as teachers in the healing arts, we can put so much pressure on ourselves to be a perfect example. OR our students and critics put a lot of pressure on us to be perfect.  Granted, that is more about them than it is about the teacher, but the pressure is there nonetheless.  It takes a strong, confident, self-aware teacher to remain unaffected by this external pressure.  Why put immeasurable pressure on ourselves to be other’s idea of perfection and adopt that as our idea of perfection?

To walk, talk, live and breath as what we feel or have been pressured to feel is as the perfect master, guru (or whatever you choose to label or not label) is completely unnecessary and counterproductive. It’s a tough role to play in today’s world.

When we develop our emotions to be expressed in a more serene, calm and composed manner, our existence will follow suit.

If we can have the self-discipline to enjoy the middle ground, instead of the tumultuous highs and lows, imagine how much more peaceful our lives can be. 

The old story of the monk facing every situation by saying “We shall see” may be one of the best examples for a content life.

So "don't worry, be content."

​

As always, thanks for reading.

See you again next week.





If you would like to read Master John's article here it is:
http://longwhitecloudqigong.com/2017/06/25/the-curse-of-always-being-happy/

.I'm sure you can't tell from the title of this article that it's an end of life story.

The poignant thing is that THIS part of the story is really wonderfully funny.

At least I think so.

You can judge for yourself.

Here goes:

I have a family member who is near the end of her life.

More than being an anecdote, this story is a tribute to her, because she's the proverbial spit-fire...

The somber note is that Alzheimer's is slowly altering her memory, and her behavior and shortening her life.

For ANYONE out there with a family member or a friend suffering from Alzheimer's, my heart goes out to you! Educate yourself. Be patient and loving with YOURSELF AND your loved one. Times like this show us what we're made of.

For the sake of the article I am going to call her Ms. T, both for her privacy and for ease of writing

Ms. T has lived a wonderful life full of family, friends, events, travel, parties, rubbing elbows with notables, golf games and real estate.

She was a whiz at selling real estate AND she was a great golfer. She played with some heavy hitters. In her prime real estate and golf went together extremely well. I imagine they still go together today - BIG deals being made on the 9th hole.

To this very day, in her late 80's, she is a classy woman - always well-dressed, always putting her best foot forward.

She has a closet that every woman with taste and style wants to raid...

...and a smile that lights up a room. A big, broad smile.

Ms. T wears a specific color of Revlon lipstick. Revlon, not L'Oreal, or MAC or Urban Decay, but Revlon.

One day she noticed she was running out of her lipstick and asked her daughter to pick up another tube.

I’ll also add that Ms. T has a taste for good vodka. She loves her evening cocktail hour. Who can begrudge an 87 year-old woman her cocktail hour???

In addition to her favorite lipstick she also requested her favorite vodka in the convenient gallon economy size.

Her daughter, being the loving daughter she is, bought her mother TWO tubes of lipstick.

Ladies, we all know how this goes - eventually every cosmetic company stops making our favorite shade of lipstick and we have to find a new color that never quite matches or looks as good as the old color.

Two tubes is an assurance of continuing to have the right color.

The vodka, well, if you drink vodka you know what works.

(I personally don't drink vodka because it makes me mean. I don't really drink much at all. I can't hold my liquor now. I can hear a friend, whom I’ve known since college, saying: "YOU NEVER COULD DRINK, but you frequently field tested it”. It was college, what can I say?)

Later in the day loving daughter delivered the two tubes of lipstick and the bottle of vodka.

Ms. T asked why she bought her two tubes of lipstick?

In her daughter's mind it was for the aforementioned reasons. They make sense to me.

Ms. T said she may not live long enough to finish the two tubes of lipstick.

"Then why did I get you such a big bottle of vodka if you think you might not be around much longer?"

"Oh, I'll be around long enough to drink the vodka!"

(Drum splash!)

That reminds me of a quote from The Godfather "Leave the gun, take the cannoli!"

"Forget the lipstick, get the vodka!"



As always, thanks for reading.

​See you again next week.

For help for you, a family member or friend with Alzheimer’s:

www.alz.org








​

Is ignorance bliss?


The more I know the more I want to know.


The more I want to know the more I know that I don’t know.


Get it?


Yea, neither do I.


I took a survey recently and one of the questions was “ I don’t know.” Choose 1 for strongly agree to 10 strongly disagree. Even surveys are asking us about not knowing or whether we think we know or not?


Know what? 


Ourselves?


Human nature?


The origins of the universe ?


The what, why, when, where, or how of anything? 


For someone with a lightening fast mind (although slower than it used to be but still sometimes annoyingly fast) I seem to carry so much information from, well, life.


Often I feel that old information has to leave my brain before new information can enter it.


That being said, In this day and age I AM feeling ignorance is bliss on a multitude of levels.


The more I know the more I DON'T want to know in regards to an increasing number of issues.


We are bombarded with information. 


On limitless topics.


Some topics are quite controversial, anxiety provoking and frustrating.


Some are just plain annoying and irritating.


Do we need to pick and choose what we know for peace of mind?


Is it possible?


"I don’t know" is a vulnerable statement.


There are people who avoid it like the plague.


They would rather "fake it to make it" instead of admitting they don’t  know something.


Isn’t that what “on the job training” is all about (she said slightly sarcastically)?


I’ll admit in my life I fudged my qualifications twice to get a job. 


One job I had to type and I didn’t really type,  only “hunt and peck”, BUT I said I typed. 
​

On a Friday I interviewed for a job. I was offered the position on the spot. I spent the entire weekend feverishly teaching myself how to type.


Luckily, typing wasn’t the end all and be all to the job.


When I arrived bright and early Monday morning I COULD TYPE!

I figured how hard could it be to self-administer a crash course in typing? After all I took typing  class in high school and I typed my college papers.

 
In the end, it wasn’t that hard to do and no one was the wiser.


Does “I don’t know” make anyone a lesser person?

Perhaps in a job interview -  if the skill is crucial  - but in the grand scheme of things it’s not a reflection of who a person is.

(Unless life is a litany of I don’t knows. Then it's important to do a some self-examination.)


Is most of life on a “need to know” basis?


Certainly we need to know a great deal of things to survive and thrive. 


HOWEVER, when is too much information too much information?


When does the bombardment of knowing adversely affect our daily lives, and our mental, emotional and psychological health?


From my vantage point - quite often.


Media keeps us in a constant state of anxiety and information overload 24/7.


Plus, it’s not the life-altering info; it’s the inane, the repetitive and the down-right useless. 


Honestly, I don’t need to know who is dating whom, driving what, earning what, or saying what. 


They went where? With who?


Bought what?


Cheated, lied, stole, wrecked?


Went to rehab, divorced, married???


Do I really need to go on?


I find it quizzical that there is so much obsession with people we don't know, never met, worked with, dated, or have as a friend or family member.


Why, oh, why do I need to know any of this and why, oh, why is it a top news story?



Beats me.



Morbid curiosity?



I'm still doing my best to decipher how we are going to feed and clothe everyone  - not just in my country but in the world?



Then there is the proverbial political blitzkrieg on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the 24 hour news. 


We get no relief, no respite, and have little recourse other than to turn everything off and shelter ourselves from too much information.


In the meantime, let’s examine “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”


My take on that phrase?


Genius.


Simple.


Understated.


Elegant.


It says: "I'm secure enough to tell you I don’t know and helpful enough to find out for you."


Can one possibly know everything about their job, business or position?


Can one possibly know EVERYTHING about ANYTHING?


I doubt it.


Even the smallest businesses have unexpected circumstances crop up.


There is a delicate dance between "I don’t want to know", "I don't
know" and "I don't know, but I’ll find out."


When is “I don’t want to know” self-preservation?


When is “I don’t know” vulnerability or just plain lack of information?


When is "I don't know, but I’ll find out” healthy, elucidating and educational?


The answers are very individual and unique.


The only answer I have to all of those questions is:


"I don’t know....


...but I'll find out."



I'll do my BEST to find out, even though some "I don't knows" are just not meant to be known...


...no matter how hard we try to get "the answer".


​


As always, thanks for reading.

See you again next week.

​
What is reality?


Is my reality your reality?


Is your reality my reality?


Is "reality" really reality?


Is it overrated?


What I have come to know is that your reality and my reality aren't always the same reality.


AND THAT'S OK!

 
Then, on the OTHER hand, let's talk about truth.


What is truth?


Is your truth my truth and visa versa?


Is truth fact?


Is fact truth?


Inquiring minds (mine) want to know. 


I'm not asking these questions to be glib.


I am looking at them from practical, philosophical and existential points of view.


AND I say POINTS not point because there is not one point of view there are many.


Many, many, many, many.


I have many.


You have many.


Do you think if we actually, collectively gave a moment's thought to the questions above that we MIGHT be more tolerant or accepting.


Strike that. I don't like the word tolerant.. It's remarkably limiting.  


I actually find it judgmental.


Does anyone really want to be TOLERATED?


"I "tolerate" you."


Yuck, it feels arrogant to me.


How about acceptance and being accepted?


​"I accept you."


Doesn't that just FEEL better?


It IS about feelings, is it not?


How you feel.  


How you allow yourself to FEEL.


The saying goes: "people may not remember exactly what you did or what you said but they will always remember how you made them feel?"


Within that line of thinking there is debate that someone can MAKE you feel anything.


Do we CHOOSE how to feel, thus taking the responsibility off of another person's shoulders?


There's the rub.


If you tell me how much I "SUCK", will I be evolved enough to say "That's not about me, that's about you, so your words don't affect me." ?


Maybe.


Maybe not.


"Sticks and stones...." and all that.


Accordingly is the perception in your reality that it's ok to say 'YOU SUCK" and the perception in my reality to be hurt merely...


...perception?


OR IS IT...


reality?


In your reality I suck. 


In my reality I don't suck and I feel that was pretty darn mean.


So who is correct?


Both?


Neither?


In my reality I feel that you're kind of an idiot right about now AND in your reality you feel I'm the idiot. (Or most likely you would not have said I suck, right?)


IMPASSE!!!!


What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?

(Nothing, really, I just like that ambiguous phrase.)


Ok...


...being a little less esoteric.


To quote Simon Pegg's character Graeme in the film Paul:

Graeme:  "Look. Just because your truth, isn't the true truth, doesn't mean there is no truth, Ruth".
Ruth: "That's easy for you to say."


NO, IT'S NOT!


What is truth but our individual TRUTHS?


What is reality but our own perception of it?


Have you ever read eye witness accounts of an accident or incident?


Ten eye witnesses will have 10 different versions. There may be some overlapping but NONE of them read the same.


All of the reports depend on visual angles, emotions, thought processes, filters, the light, the dark, and so on.


Similarly, let's look at the game of telephone. 


You remember that game, right?


A group of people stand in a line. One person whispers a sentence to the person next to them.  They then whisper it to the next person in line all the way down to the end of the line.


99 times out of 100 its ends a hell of a lot differently than it started.


Start:  "The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly In the Plain."

End:  "I Took a Train to Jersey and had Noodles with Rihanna."


NOW do you see where I am going with this entire dissertation?


Allow room for perception, individual reality and personal truths.


If it's doing us no harm let's just grin, acknowledge it and carry on.


If it's destructive, divisive or damaging then chalk that up to ego, self-absorption and narcissism, and carry on.


it's in how you carry on that really makes the difference.


I do my best to sideswipe the destructive, divisive and damaging, if I can..  


I quickly hit "disengage" and alter my course.


HOWEVER, if it's really onerous, then, yea, I have to speak up.


And speak up I do.


More about THAT another time.




As always thanks for reading.

See you again next week.

Please pass this on to anyone you think may enjoy my takes on life.

Until next time, visit my dear friend, artist and writer, Linda Hough. 
She uses her art in incredible, healing collages.
http://lindahough.com/blog/

For various reasons I don't use Facebook or Instagram.


They OBVIOUSLY work for some people - many people - but they don't work for me.  They are too distracting from actual life for me.


Recently, I got the bright idea to promote my writing; get it out into the world more,  


That's not an unreasonable goal, is it?



I decided to try my hand at Twitter.



AGAIN.



​For the fifth time.


​
I was on it for about a week and a half, maybe a little bit longer.  I acquired about 175 followers in that time frame.



Sans reluctance, I deleted my account.



AGAIN.



Why?



It felt like another social media obsession that I don't need.



Admittedly, I don’t feel that way about LinkedIn or Google+.



Both seem gentler and kinder - to me.



I found I was getting swept up in politics, partisanship, religion...



...and hatred. Not my hatred but how others' hatred affected me.  (AND DANG, there is a lot of hatred and divisiveness on Twitter, Facebook and now, unfortunately, Instagram.  I will also add that it is not from just one group, it is groups across the board.)


"You’re right." (So I'm in your corner and part of your tribe.)


OR


"I’m right and you’re wrong."


OR 


"Join the resistance."


"Be a part of the blue wave,"


"You're a deplorable."


"Conspiritard!" 


"Velcro shoe." (That one is totally new to me.) 


OR


"Libtard,"


"Snowflake."


"Cuck, Masculinist."


"Crybaby, Whiner."


Ad infinitum.



There is certainly a lot of name-calling going on out there. 



"F* this person, and f* that person, and f* this and f* that and...."  



STOP THE WORLD I WANT TO GET OFF!!



Somewhere down the line we missed the course on non-violent communication.



Or we need a refresher.



What the heck IS non-violent communication?



According to Wikipedia:


"Nonviolent Communication (abbreviated NVC, also called Compassionate Communication or Collaborative Communication) is an approach to nonviolent living developed by Marshall Rosenberg beginning in the 1960s.

It is based on the idea that all human beings have the capacity for compassion and only resort to violence or behavior that harms themselves and others when they do not recognize more effective strategies for meeting needs. Habits of thinking and speaking that lead to the use of violence (social, psychological and physical) are learned through culture. NVC theory supposes all human behavior stems from attempts to meet universal human needs and that these needs are never in conflict. Rather, conflict arises when strategies for meeting needs clash. NVC proposes that people identify shared needs, revealed by the thoughts and feelings that surround these needs, and collaborate to develop strategies that meet them. This creates both harmony and learning for future cooperation."



Got that?



Sounds pretty daunting in today's world, does it not?



Maybe it is and maybe it isn't. 



NVC takes intention, getting out of one's ego, and execution (i.e. effort). 



Ok, slightly daunting.  



We can quote non-violent activists but can we follow their examples?  



I can't recall Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, The Dalai Lama or Nelson Mandela (to name just a few) ever using any of the aforementioned types of phraseology - at least not in public.



I found myself wanting to be on Twitter several times a day. I found myself wanting to be part of a community, part of a movement.



​I did my best to bolster other people and support them.



It COMPLETELY distracted me from my writing.  



Writing that IS part of a community, part of a movement. 



It just so happens that I have created the community and movement with my words.



I initially got on Twitter to increase my readership. and I discovered that your chances of making inroads with your work are marginal at best. 


Nil at worst.



UNLESS you are an additional voice in a movement -  then you make connections quickly. 



But if that movement or group causes you anxiety, frustration, or you are swept up in their behavior, language, and tactics just to feel heard, seen or accepted is it really worth it?



It wasn't for me.



I don't mind being a bit of a lone wolf.



There is NOTHING wrong with being original and not following the leader.    



Someone recently said to me:
"Being a loving person on some social media is like going to an orgy with people who are (already) promiscuous then asking them to practice safe sex out of love and mutual respect.



It just doesn’t work. (Quite the analogy, isn't it.)



Is it easier to create an emotional reaction to words that are attached to hate than it is to create an emotional reaction to words attached to love?



I don't believe it is.  As a writer I love the written word and KNOW words have immense power of love.  



I also love the spoken word and believe the same for spoken words.  


I've read that poems aren't as popular as they need to be because very few people connect words with love except those who enjoy poetry.  



Is it easier to create hate than love through words? 



If we don't want to utilize the word love because it's platitudinous,  Pollyanna, over-employed or misinterpreted how about:


​Compassion?


Respect?


​Acceptance?


Appreciation?
 


I say we need to be much more judicious with our words. 



Don't give up on expressing love, humor and compassion.



Some days the love needs to be really firm, but it's still love.



Love -  who needs it?



We ALL do.



We all want to have love in our lives. Psychologically, emotionally and physically we all need love in some form. 



Those who say they don't are dealing with pain that is preventing them from having, or being the love. 


​
I have never met a single person, no matter how hardened, who did not at some point, bring love into the conversation, or allude to it.



Needless to say, the brain is prewired for negativity, and positivity takes work. 



But like RuPaul says “ You better work!” 


​
​SO...



DO THE WORK.



Reprogram your brain to be more positive, realistic, solution oriented, problem-solving, trouble-shooting and less knee-jerk, confrontational, easily offended, and reactionary. 



Use social media, don't use social media, or use a little bit of social media.  That is up to you and the lifestyle you lead.



If it's your daily focus and you can't wait to "share" with the world, then perhaps it's time to re-examine your relationships with social media and yourself. 



It’s not self-righteous to stop using social media;  in many instances it’s self-preservation.



As always thanks for reading.


See you again next week.



In the meantime, take a look at the work of a friend and colleague:

Dipika Patel

​Love Your Life Healthy
​
​https://www.loveyourlifehealthy.com/
​

,*This is an excerpt of a discussion I had with a BBC reporter immediately after Anthony Bourdain passed away.  I have extended this post because my site was down for a few days and I feel it is really worth reading and extending its emphasis.


"I have co-owned two restaurants in Canada.


More like they owned me.


What I found out about owning restaurants is that I was no good at owning restaurants.


The first restaurant we simply invested money. (Yep, I've yet to see a return on my investment.  Total newbie F-up.)


The second restaurant, we were all in. 


My partner and I were the investors.  He hosted, dealt with paperwork, ordering as per the chef's instructions, upkeep, et al.


I hosted, designed menus, picked out the organic wine (I DID have some knowledge there) and hired the entertainment.  Pretty basic stuff because I was a pretty basic restaurant owner.


Our partners were chefs and former restaurant owners.  We entrusted them as the experts.  (Another flippin' mistake, but that was because I didn't know enough to see the signs of a doomed partnership.)


I was a wet behind the ears, green, newbie, riding by the seat of my pants owner with what appeared to be money to burn (and burn it we did).  I take full responsibility for my choices.


Our chef, who was immensely talented and a total what-you-see-is-what-you-get person, handed me a book one day.


I will never forget what he said to me:

"KaZ, if you want to know and understand me, and what goes on in a restaurant, you need to read this book."


He handed me "Kitchen Confidential" by Anthony Bourdain.


I said "Thank you?"


It's not that I wasn't up to being schooled by my chef, I just had NO idea what I had gotten myself into and he knew it.


It was the one of the kindest things ANYONE has ever done for me.


I read the book from cover to cover.  Some chapters and paragraphs I read more than once or twice.


Some passages I just could NOT believe and some made complete sense to me.


After I "studied" the book it changed how I looked at my chef and at the restaurant business.


It helped me to look for the signs of theft of money and goods from the restaurant (there was both).


It helped me regard my chef as an artist, a humble but proud creator and a master of his art.


The book gave me insight into what I needed to do in the back and front of the house to insure my staff had what they needed.


I also learned the times to tighten the reins when things got out of hand.


Pointing out financial and operational issues did not make me popular with my staff or my partners, BUT it DID make me savvy.  


Were any of my staff on drugs, stealing from me or f'ing off? You bet they were.  


Were any of them busting their butts?  You bet they were.


Was my chef an adept and more than capable craftsperson?  YOU BET HE WAS.


Would I have recognized ANY of this without the book?


Probably, but it would have taken SO MUCH LONGER.


My son bussed tables at 8, 9 and 10 years old. He loved it. He loved being in the restaurant. The staff treated him like a valuable person, not just the owner's son.


His dream was to be a chef and as he pursued that dream Anthony was his hero and still is.  


Why Anthony and not other notable chefs?  I don't know, but I'll ask him.


We both cried when we heard of his death.


I owned a small bistro that was a blip on the world map,  but it WAS a blip, nonetheless.


My point is that Anthony did more for me and my son than he will ever know."  





If you or someone you know and love is suffering from mental health challenges, seek assistance.

National Suicide Prevention Line
Call 1-800-273-8255
Available 24 hours everyday

Crisis Text Line Text “home” to 741741

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Help Line: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)




​As always, thanks for reading!

See you next week.

​Boy, this is the type of article I find exciting and difficult to write.


Exciting because I believe mental health is as important as physical health. 


I am thrilled we are having these conversations, getting it out in the open, and releasing stigmas.


Difficult because it comes on the heels of the deaths, by suicide, of (in my book) two brilliant creators and artists.  People who affected the lives of more individuals than they will ever know.


BUT we HAVE to have these conversations.  


We have to look at the statistics.


We have to be informed and unafraid to talk about it.


Some of us have to reach deep inside and reveal some intimate truths about ourselves FOR ourselves and for others.


It takes a village to raise EVERYONE!!!


Feeling heard and knowing that we have options is crucial.


Let's start with: 1 in 4 people are dealing with mental health challenges.


Stand in a group of 4 people and one of them is suffering.


Or is it you?
 

The more we say "I deal with mental health issues" the more it becomes a part of HEALTH.


An accepted, acknowledged part of health.


Chemical imbalances and neurological deficiencies are no different, in my eyes, than heart attacks or cancer. 

We can accept a stroke, aneurysm or seizure in the brain but we can’t accept brain disorders that manifest as mental health illnesses?

The brain is an organ just like the lungs, heart and liver.


We need to look at the whole person.

Hiding our anxiety, depression, anger, bipolarism, or personality disorder results in the cataclysm of suicide.

Everywhere we go there are living testaments to quality of life with mental health issues.

It's the retail salesperson, hairdresser, bus driver, restaurant server, housekeeper, cable person, and, yes, even your doctor.

We can treat and even cure many diseases; mental health issues are among them.  

I come from generations and generations of mental health challenges.  From family members in the earlier 20th century who received electric shock therapy, to current family members, and close family friends, who thrive being on talk therapy, exercise, mindfulness, healthy eating, proper rest, supplementation, pharmaceuticals and/or medicinal marijuana.  

IT'S THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY, BABY!!!

If you FEEL something, say something.

SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOUR BACK!  

I'm one of them. 



As always, thanks for reading.

​If you enjoyed this or any of my articles PLEASE pass them on to help me grow my readership. 

See you again next week!

I interrupt the regularly scheduled Part Deux of the thread on "Imitation" to bring you this:



With everything happening in the world today; the upheavals in politics, religion and entertainment, I felt a bit "de-motivated" to write anything serious.



As a matter of fact, I'm feeling de-motivated to write anything very serious at all, ever.



Finding the funny is what gives us a break in life.  



A break from troubles, strife, trends, competition, the global economy, and the bombardment by the media of continual "breaking news" 24/7/365.



We are in a heightened state of alert at all times.  



We are apprised of anything and everything within a millisecond of its discovery.  



There is also very little filter in the news, or in people.



Say whatever comes to your mind.

​

Whenever.



Manners?  Meh.



Civility?  Nah.



Courtesy?  Huh?



Just let 'er rip.



We have a zillion outlets for our "expression" and we use them ad infinitum. (Or should I say ad nauseum?)



Wow, it's a lot to absorb.



We get some relief by putting the topics across in a humorous way.



Or do we?



When we point out the foibles of human existence should we do it with laughter?


​
Is laughter the best medicine?



I wholeheartedly believe there is truth in jest.



Does that jest have to be at the expense of anyone?



It appears lately that it does.



(You may have thought this article was going in one direction and I sent it in another.  I'm like that.)



We make fun of what we don't like, understand, or accept.



We take that kernel of truth and we wrap it in a "funny" moment and put it on display.



We have "roasted" people, places and things for centuries.



​So if we laugh about it, is it wrong or unkind?



Is it our right to package life in such a way that we get a laugh?



Does that makes it ok?



Does humor release us from responsibility?



I don't think it does.



That being said...



I love laughter.



Humor.



Poking fun.



Especially at myself.



I love taking my life moments and encasing them in humor.



It helps me accept the good and the not-so-good.



As Monty Python said "Always look on the bright side of life." (Dee Dum Dee Dum Dee Dum Dee Dum).



I couldn't agree more.



BUT if the bright side of life is to denigrate, bully, harass, insult, vilify, defame, humiliate, oppress, discriminate, slur or persecute ANYONE is it REALLY funny?



I say, no.



It's a thinly veiled punch in the gut.



(You may not agree with me, and I am totally OK with that.)



Much of the work in my life has revolved around humor.



Early in my career I chose musical comedy instead of drama or tragedy.



Even in the meditation I taught I infused classes with humor to lighten people's burdens.



Literally no one goes to meditation because they have it all together.



At the very least they need a boost. 



​Granted, there are days I meditate to enhance the peace in my life and there are days I meditate to bring me peace.



The latter is more frequent than the former.



As human beings in the world, life is nothing without ups and downs.



​They make us resilient and appreciative.



BUT I digress...



Does he who has the last laugh win?



Laugh together or cry alone?




Does hilarity have to be hurtful?



Facts ARE funny.



There is no doubt about that.



I love comedians who report the facts and how comical they are.



And ridiculous.



Truth is MUCH funnier than fiction.



I'm not talking about propaganda, hearsay, or opinion.




I'm talking about pick up the newspaper and start reading.



Or watch a very unbiased, neutral newscast like BBC or the English version of Al-Jazeera.



Both sides of any story get representation.



I guarantee if you don't cry and if you look at the "fact's" with new eyes you will:

1) Face-Palm

2) Roll your eyes.

OR

3)Roll on the ground laughing.



Nobody wins if the purpose of humor or communication is hurtful.


Nobody.


Sooner than later this type of humor bestows a swift kick in the $?! 






As always thanks for reading.



See you again next week with Part Deux of "Imitation".