“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

-Buddha

From time to time, when I sense that I’m becoming either too dully earnest or too twitchily diligent, I seek out a learning challenge for myself that will startle me out of my rut.

As some of you may remember, I took up boxing a year and a half ago or so (I LOVE BOXING, and I am eagerly awaiting the re-opening of my community boxing class.) It was a great exercise in beginner’s mind and both physical and mental agility (not to mention humility!) Last fall, I bought myself a pair of bright yellow roller-skates (I’m not good; I fall down a lot; I love it); and I have been appreciating the opportunity to improve my balance and strength, and it has also been a good exercise in humility. (Yay!) Most recently, I embarked on a new venture: I signed up for a comedy open mic, and have now been three times to try out my own material. So fun! So super scary and yet so fun. Especially after this past garbage fire of a year, writing jokes has been refreshing and enlivening.

The more I do this—seeking out light-hearted learning opportunities—the more convinced I become that fun is powerful. Laughter is good medicine. Play might just save us. Comedy is for heroes.

There is plenty to cry about, and don’t get me wrong: I’m an advocate of A Good Cry. I have Irish roots and my favorite Irish storyteller talks about how the Irish were born with their bladders a little too close to their eyes, hence all the weeping (ewww.) However, I think that a good laugh is sometimes what’s called for. Genuine laughter can alchemize sorrow into something more bearable, and it is a powerful antidote to the unique blend of martyrdom, monotone earnestness, and ego-driven over-giving that plagues many an activist.

Your challenge, (should you choose to accept it):

1. Choose a learning activity in which you have little to no background and very low chances of ‘success’.
2. Dive into it with enthusiasm and a willingness to make a fool of yourself and possibly learn something.
3. Go for it!
4. Email me and tell me all about it.
5. Give yourself MAJOR KUDOS.