02.22.09
Grapefruit and Cottonballs
This week’s Comedy Around the World shows us how to find humor in everything. While I was walking along the road on the way to the Mt. of Beatitudes (yes, there is a real place), I saw many interesting sights. Not the least of which was the centuries-old history. The religious significance. And–the grapefruits. There they were, growing on trees. You could (and I did) just walk up to the tree, pick the fruit and eat it. No grocery stores, no shipping, no waiting until they ripen in Florida. They were here. And I was impressed.
This kind of attention to detail is what makes observational humor unique. Many people may not have noticed the grapefruit trees. If you are from Pennsylvania, and visiting Israel in December, the trees jump out at you.
Jerry Seinfeld is a master at marveling about the mundane. He does an entire bit about the cottonball. His TV show was filled with everyday experiences that he noted, looked at differently, and made into a story line.
We can do the same. Perhaps with less fanfare and salary than Seinfeld. But we can look for humor everywhere. Just start noticing what surprises you. Build from that. One day I had my glasses on while I was in the kitchen. Suddenly I noticed the crumbs on the floor. Some pens and pencils, too. In the other room, I saw that there were cobwebs in some of the corners of the room. I had no idea! I’m not one of those clean freaks. If you go to their house, they make you take off your shoes.
If you come to my house, I just make you take off your glasses.
See what you can do to, “Get Your SHINE Together!”
