Reasoning Humour

There once was a time in my childhood when I was told to stop being so silly. This sagacious belief passed through eons and ages effectively makes me quite chilly!

Philosophers down through the ages have discussed many things at great length. Aristotle, Plato and Socrates opined opinions of humour with great strength.

Disappointed to learn that these teachers didn’t laugh at humour at all, they each had believed logic and reason hold strong and that emotional storming was wrong.

But in their defense, each era was different. They said humour was at someone’s expense. This Theory of Superiority declared laughter was only when someone's station or power was less.

“Humor is reason gone mad.”

~ Groucho Marx

Transformation ~ 1

I must admit when skies loom so gray and cold and wet,

humour can be very hard to find ~ still and yet ~

I mustn’t fuss for far east of here, there’s snowy, slippery roads

with semis sliding in the ditch breaking all the codes!

But let me tell you about a pretty picture I glimpsed 

on a cold, gray and rainy day like this.

A troop of boys and girls walking with their moms

and all dressed in greens, pinks, reds and colours of the sun.

The skies were gray, the rain fell down upon their little heads

while I was at a desk inside, writing in my book instead.

These little children made me smile despite a lean to gloom

In an instant, my old heart and attitude transformed in my living room.

“When all is said and done, the only change that will make

a difference is the transformation of the human heart.”

~ Peter Senge

Listening for Humour (Humour vs Road Rage)

Errands on my list today were one and two and three.

Timing was important getting from A to B to C.

Parking spots came easily. I was pleasantly surprised.

Each office I attended had no waits inside.

But then as I was driving, city traffic all around,

my chuckle came from deep inside when I heard the sound

of the Dave and Morley story Stuart McLean was telling us.

The radio audience listened despite the noisy city bus.

Road rage can disrupt a drive to errands on our list - but so can story when it is so humorous!

If we don’t take time for story - humour may be missed!

So start your morning early, so timing can be stretched.

You'll find there’s humour anywhere just waiting to be fetched.

“Observe due measure, for right timing is 
in all things the most important factor.”

~ Hesiod

Opening Skies for Humour

The greatest humour of the day

is that the wind has blown the clouds away!

And in my wandering I have found

dry leaves and branches on the ground.

Inside, out of that lovely wind, I surfed upon the internet

I searched for belly laughs, some humour or dry wit

and instead found a school with diplomas ~ for a fee.

Click, clicking on sites and came up with degrees!

So here is an interesting bit of news for you scholars

There’s a erudite group of researchers of humour!

I questioned it and then rather thought 

that it must be just a hoax, but it was not!

The International Congress of Humor has a journal

with research, news and meetings conventional

The website is:

http://www.hnu.edu/ishs/index.htm?

And this rhyme is done.

“The knowledge of all things is possible.”

~ Leonardo Da Vinci

Working on Humour

If we go through our work days with no humour attached

how will we ever know success has been latched

to the numbers and outcomes and dollars and cents

to the graphs with their lines and diagrams we present.

Graph paper is flat and lines all in ink.

Heart and soul for our work gone into the sink.

Laughter we shared while toiling has gone out,

muted and shushed, only principles win out.

So when making up graphs make sure colour is used,

not for flagging or tagging, but to show how to cruise.

Orange for brightness, energy, verve

while red is for heartfelt work on a curve.

Blue will show skies and water so glassy

green is for forests, gardens and grasses.

If silliness needed, a bar graph could be

balloons on strings golden, different lengths don’t you see.

Humour for cheering everyone working is needed

to dig out the frowns and have seriousness weeded.

So do something today that will make someone smile

so that tiny one moment will be cherished for a while.

“Humor can alter any situation and help us 

cope at the very instant we are laughing.”

~ Allen Klein

Ordinary Colours

How many things did I think of today

that stretched out my grin, called me to play?

First tasting hot coffee with ginger, you know, and then there were blankets that warmed up my toes.

After breakfast and yoga, to work I did go, dark sky coloured dawning, a wonderful show.

Quiet drive down the street with pink snow on the ground

No joggers, no dogs and their walkers, no cars were around.

Parking so neatly, I walked into work

to be greeted quite cheerily by shifting night folk.

There was joy in the day, both humour and fun,

and of course all the serious work did get done.

A short trip back home, greening trees lining lawns

At home, daffodil nodded ‘hello’ while I yawned.

An ordinary day with splashes of colour,

Blue sky and sunshine, friendly smiles and bright flowers.

“Appreciate everything, even the ordinary.  Especially the ordinary.

~ Pema Chodron

Keeping Cozy

There is humour in snow storms once the blizzard is done.

For kids on toboggans, or making snowmen, have fun.

When grey clouds rain on us, trees and flowers fill with joy

Hollows in streets and in roadways fill puddles for each girl and boy.

A tiny bit funny not black cloud or sun,

keys to house and car couldn’t be found.

Thanks to taxi to work and bus home quite safe

I found my keys cozy in a very safe place.

So despite worrisome troubles and unasked for stress, 

there really was humour inside all the mess.

“You may not be able to change a situation, but 

with humor you can change your attitude about it.”

~ Allen Klein