You grow up the day you have your first real laugh at yourself. — Ethel Barrymore
Isn’t it interesting that laughing at oneself, seeing humor in our own missteps is something that takes a while to learn. Yet, as I think about raising my own children and now watching my grandchildren grow and mature I think Ms. Barrymore has a good point.
It’s not easy to teach children and ourselves to not laugh at others, but it is good to laugh at oneself.
It’s also a life lesson that is easy to forget. It is easy to fall into a world where we take life too seriously and pain is the only emotion we can express.
Real honest laughter is good for our health and our soul. Laughter at oneself is a way of accepting who we are, and learning to be happy with who we are, even those parts of us that are funny or odd. If we can’t laugh at ourselves, we shut ourselves off from the parts we need to accept the most.
I bemoan the fact that our political leaders seemed to all have lost their sense of humor, and this day of 24 hour media never sees humor except when it is at someone’s expense. If I would have one bit advice for them it would be lighten up and grow up.
We know God has a sense of humor, we need only look at the animal kingdom or listen to a baby laugh. This week find a time to tell a good story on yourself and roar back and laugh.
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