12.23.08
Seeing Stars
Using your sense of humor is a lot like spotting a celebrity. Staying open to new and different possibilities, not having expectations, suspending belief, etc.
I remember back in the 1990’s I went to New York to meet up with some friends who were coming from overseas. I walked from where I stayed at West Side Y, and went to meet my friends. As I walked along a back street, something ironic happened (if you happen to be a Springsteen fan, you can appreciate the word-play here). I looked up and said to the man walking toward me, “Hey! Aren’t you Little Steven!?” He calmly smiled and said, “Yeah!” and agreed to sign the only available paper I had–my bank deposit slip. I got a passerby to take our picture, and then we each went on our way.
This meeting was possible because of three distinct things;
1. I had done my research. I knew who Little Steven was–even before he was a Soprano, he was a Disciple of Soul, and also an E Streeter. When we do our humor research, we find out our own unique style of humor, and then operate within that.
2. I had no expectations about meeting Little Steven that day. When we don’t expect to get laughs, we have more freedom and encouragement to speak our truths.
3. I believed I could do it. Although I didn’t know I would meet Little Steven specifically, I knew that in New York, there is always electricity in the air; there are many celebrities, and it is common to meet one of them. When we believe that we have a sense of humor, we are more likely to honor it by using it whenever we can!
