09.22.08
Giving And Getting Laughs
Humor. It’s one of the ten ways of giving that Post and Neimark write about in their 2007 book, “Why Good Things Happen to Good People: How to live a longer, healthier, happier life by the simple act of giving.”
“Humor is the fastest, fleetest form of giving–it can change pain to joy in a mere millisecond. A good joke can sometimes lift a person out of pain when no other way of love is effective.” And it can also prevent road rage.
Yesterday on my way to a show, I got behind a pick-up truck. You know, one that drives really slowly, especially when you’re in a hurry. (Usually it’s not a pick-up truck, but a semi. The logo of the company is always “Swift.” Is that supposed to make us laugh?)
I thought, “Oh, great, these people are just talking to each other, oblivious to my time-line!” Then the person in the passenger seat turned to the driver. She or he had a really long, pointy nose. Then I realized: It was a dog! I laughed out loud.
And then I kept laughing as the driver turned and kept talking to the dog! And I’m not even a dog person! A few miles later (I didn’t pass them, I wanted to see this, it was entertaining), the dog turned to the driver, and I could see his mouth open. The dog was talking too!
I laughed to myself, and out loud, the whole way to my destination. I wasn’t as concerned about being in a hurry. I wasn’t even that mad at myself for forgetting my shirt I had planned to wear under my suit jacket. It didn’t seem to matter. There were things bigger than my time-line. Things that were very, very funny.
That driver and his dog exemplified the act of giving. Whether they knew it or not, they created a spark of lightness in my day. This isn’t a talent for only a few, or only dogs. I’m sure cats are capable of it, and maybe even humans.
“Get Your SHINE Together,” but get out of my way if I’m behind you driving in a hurry. Unless, of course, you bring your dog.
