On Amusement

Sometimes we get bogged down by seriousness.  Our circumstances, the state of the world all seem to conspire to give us a message that is stern and exacting.  Wipe that smile off your face, buckle down and get to work. Seriousness is the death of creativity, lightness and flow.  It’s like a dam that keeps things from moving merrily along.  And sometimes we get stuck in this energy.  We become paralyzed, uncertain, or avoidant- because THIS IS A REALLY BIG DEAL, and we are probably going to screw it up. 

When you’re stuck in a serious place it helps to get out- literally.  Leave the house and go for an amusement walk.  When looking for amusement it helps to keep your eyes open.  The world is a great source of strange and funny things.  Walk until you find something, anything that makes you smile.  Be like a detective, searching for a good joke. If you have a child, take them with you- they are wonderful at finding the fun and joy in the world.  Tell them you’re on a secret mission to find something funny- and see what turns up.

Here are a few of the funny things I’ve found on my neighborhood walks:

Tacked to a tree at Mt. Tabor park- this seems like a warning against stick aliens?   

This made me laugh as I imagined how this pile of gravel could be dangerous.  Maybe you might try to climb it and slip and fall? 

What I love about Talon’s Truck sale is that there’s no address, or time- and of course the instruction to BRING CASH.

When you get outside, start looking around- the wonderous, strange and hilarious is there for all to see.  And when you can see the world and yourself in this way- things start moving again.  Maybe, all of this, is not such a big deal?  Maybe it’s something we can laugh about.