This I Believe...and I believe I have been busy lately

I have succumbed to the life of the stay at home PTO soccer mom!  All of my free time has been about doing for my kids as of late & my blog has therefore suffered.  But I have hopes of coming back, better than before...stay tuned.  Until then, here is an essay I wrote for a book club meeting late last year.  We read a book of essays compiled for the NPR show, "This I Believe" and decided to write our own essays.  This is mine, with editing for the sake of privacy. 

This I Believe

Because I don’t practice one particular religion, I find that I believe in many other things which describe my own particular dogma, or outlook on living a good life.  Having so many beliefs makes it hard to choose a central one.  But, when I think on things that are a part of my core, my “belief inheritance” as it were, one particular way of being looms large.  Sometimes, I fear, too large.

I believe in the humor found in the obvious.  I inherited this particular trait from my father.  Growing up, I believed him to be loose-lipped, quick to laugh at things others found embarrassing and always ready with a good dirty joke.  Most of his jokes became more ridiculous with each successive glass of wine, and I cringed as others around him seemingly dismissed his attempts at humor or took offense at his willingness to comment on the “elephant in the room.”  I was a teenage girl and he was, in my mind, the biggest elephant, looming large.

As I have gotten older, become a parent, discovered the joy of wine…I have found that my sense of humor borders on the juvenile as well.  I love potty humor and can laugh for hours about something as silly as The Accountant getting accidentally racked by one of the girls.  I see the humorous side of people’s attempts to make fools out of themselves, whether intentional or not.  I do not laugh because I feel superior or like to see others suffer; I simply appreciate the wit (or absurdity) in what they are attempting to do or say.  Often times, I will offer myself up as, perhaps, a bigger fool, by making light of the situation when others may simply snigger to themselves or cast judgments.  I believe in these cases, understanding & sympathy is called for, and obvious humor is both the great equalizer and my personal way of empathizing.  My sense of humor keeps me laughing and joyful when I may otherwise turn to tears or shame.  It grants me perspective on the world and recognition that no one is perfect; particularly me.  Most importantly, my personal elephant allows me to connect with those closest to me.  I can relate to my children on a level that can be called “childlike,” and can now appreciate my father for the generous man and loyal friend that he is.  Most importantly, my love of obvious humor is the reason that I truly connect with the comedian that is my husband; we will spend the rest of our lives laughing together.  This I believe and am thankful for.

 From http://www.kiwanja.net