HUMILITY MONTH: DAY 16: “You’re wise when you laugh at yourself.”― Maxime Lagacé
I remember the first time I shared in a meeting the crazy thoughts that went through my mind in a specific situation. I was so terrified at the enormity of the thinking…I had never paid attention to how it went on before. And instead of being shocked and horrified at how crazy I was, everyone laughed!
Wow! What a tremendous freedom that gives me! And I found out that I am not that big a deal, that my crazy thinking was just that…thinking.
We all do it, we all have a back story trying to destroy our goodness…it is called Ego. When we are in the grips of it, we do not know we are thinking at all…we are just reacting to the crazy thoughts. It is only when we begin to pay attention by meditating that we can become aware of the thoughts.
Every time I think about laughing at myself, I remember one of my all-time favorite movies, “Labyrinth.” I especially love the part David Bowie plays in it. And there is one scene where he tells the creatures who are dancing and teasing a baby to laugh…his voice and body language when he gives them that command is arresting and memorable to me. I hear it and visualize it whenever I am told to laugh at myself. Love that image!
And I love how crazy my head is with it’s altogether-too-serious attitude about me and my silly little life. There truly are no big deals. We have to learn that everything we experience is happening in the world at large. If we are truly being humble, we already know that life and death are not a big deal either. We make them so, but they truly are going on ALL around us, ALL the time. It is just life, after all. And when we learn to laugh at our stories about it, it is a great deal more enjoyable and peaceful to experience.
Dolphin Hug 