how to wring a little humor out of troubling times

 

~bamboo~

"The human capacity for burden is like bamboo,

far more flexible than you'd believe

at first glance."

~Jodi Picoult~

It shouldn't surprise any of us that people are responding with worry, fear, sorrow, resentment, and anger to the state of our nation, to the daily news, and to the everyday stresses that are mounting in ways we never imagined. People living in fear. Having trouble making ends meet. Losing their jobs, and with them, their income. Their health insurance. Their businesses. Their homes. We are subject to arrogance, dishonesty, cruelty, misogyny, and rampant racism. Not to mention the pervasive problem of sexual abuse. Most of us have had enough.

"There is nothing worse

than thinking you are well enough.

Don't turn your head.

Keep looking at the bandaged place.

That's where the light enters you.

And don't believe for a moment that

you are healing yourself."

~Jelaluddin Rumi~

What might come as a surprise is the fact that some people have found ways to wring humor out of these troubling times. It may seem inappropriate to trivialize the tragedy unfolding around us by making jokes about it, but this is another example of the duality that keeps our heads on straight. Some of us are well, some are ill. Some are scared, others are safe. Some look on the bright side while others are stuck in the dark. 

I had to smile at a few of the posts that have appeared amid all this.

If you're not ready to entertain humor yet, maybe you can appreciate something of beauty or sweetness. 

If it's still too soon for that, you could simply go to the window and watch the clouds scoot across the insanely clear blue sky, or you could toss some corn and apples out to feed the deer, or you could listen to the birds singing their little hearts out. 

If you simply can't muster a smile right now, don't worry. It will come. You will get through this. You'll know it the next time--or the first time, if it hasn't already happened for you--someone or something brings a smile to your lips. 

"It is both a blessing and a curse

to feel everything so very deeply."

~David Jo~

jan