A Funny Thing Happened The Other Day
In case you do not know me, I am perceived as a profoundly serious person. Throughout my career, in group training sessions, where you had to pick whom you would want with you on a deserted island, I was always picked. Not because I was a fun person, I was always picked because I would help the group survive and figure out how to get off the island. Inevitably, I would say I can be fun too….. I never use this activity now.
I remember when at my office in Austin, the team would laugh about the daily antics of Garfield, I would go into my office and laugh 30 minutes later when I finally got the joke. You would hear someone say, she finally got the joke. Now do not misunderstand, I have a great sense of humor, it’s just not always on display.
So, the other day, while working on a proposal, I heard a funny joke and I laughed out loud. When my husband came into the house, I said I have a joke. He froze. Braced himself against the sink and said okay….so I told the joke. He looked at me puzzled and then laughed out loud and went on his way.
I did not stop there, I called one of my closest friends. We never call each other during the workday, so of course, she answered – “what’s up?” Again, I said I have a joke. Just like my husband, she said ah- okay. I told the joke, she paused and then laughed out loud.
Now I am having fun, so I call my daughter – she answered – “Hey Mom” and I said – I have a joke. She said – I kid you not – “Excuse Me” so I repeated, I have a joke. She said okay – I told the joke, she paused, laughed, and then said to the grandkids – Nana told a joke. They replied you mean Granddad, and she proceeded to convince them that it was really me.
Now at this point, you are probably wondering why I am telling this story. As I had a good hearty laugh while working, I realized that people are probably not laughing as much as we did in the past. The seriousness of our current environment, maybe creating more stress than humor.
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