Take Life Seriously - Just Not Too Seriously

Life is full of contradictions: Take your time, but hurry it up. I accidentally did it on purpose. Life isn't funny, but laugh at it anyway. Nike TnTake time to smell the roses while you live hard. See what I mean? I think sometimes we fail to find a balance in life that allows for serious pursuits but also provides the ability to laugh at ourselves.

I like to find the funny quirks in life. I like to laugh. I like to have fun. Take this writing, for example, if, at the end of this article, you are so utterly confused then I hope you won't mind a small chuckle from me at your expense. I know what I'm trying to say, and you're either going to have to figure it out, or ignore it altogether. Either way it's a small bit of life that I can find amusing and that keeps me interested in life.

You know, like parking in a driveway and driving in a parkway. Does it make sense? Sure, if you try not to figure it out too much. But then again, isn't it fun to try and mentally wrestle with the idiocy in life? It gives a person a chance to chuckle if not the urge to indulge in a full throated belly laugh. It keeps life interesting, at least.

I mean there are serious issues in life: Marriage, children, bills, relationships, your job, which pair, of the hundred pair of shoes you own, to wear that day (ladies). Big issues. Huge issues. Titanic issues. But if you can't find humor in them, if you can't laugh at yourself, if you can't see the irony in daily living, perhaps you are missing something.

Sometimes I wonder if some of you practice that stern, serious and even mysterious expression in the mirror every morning you get up. Trust me, the imagery provides me with a healthy chuckle or two. I can just see it, you standing there in front of the mirror frowning, looking serious and intent. Suddenly you shake your head in disappointment, it's not serious enough! Your frown deepens; your eyebrows furrow in concentration and wrinkles appear on your forehead as you cross your arms and scowl deeply at yourself. Eureka! At last! A sufficiently serious expression! Success! Ha!

Come on, do you not see the humor there? Is life so stern that you can't even find it within yourself to laugh at yourself? Oh, I think that the other extreme is a problem too. Making fun of life, robs you of the depth of life if you aren't careful.

You say, "That's a contradiction!" Of course it is. Just like the title. Just like you. Just like me. People are contradictions. Every man is a boy trying to be an adult. Give him the right toys and he reverts to that childish passion that he secretly clings. He does this while still practicing that stern expression in the mirror every morning. Ha! Don't deny it. There was a slight twitch of the lips when you read that! Hit close to home, eh?

It's okay. Take life seriously-just not too seriously!