Today I read my brother's blog about his own self journey. I was inspired to think about my own journey a bit and the areas that I know I need to work on. Maturity is an area where I know I could definitely improve. For example, about a month ago, a neighbor came to me and asked where Lise got "those", pointing to the kissing balls we had hung the day before. "They are the nicest on the street. " I agreed, but in my head, I was struggling with my own internal 16 year-old who wanted to say, "You're right, I do have the best balls on the street." 
My Dad would say that I am well aligned with the lowest cast in society and as a 36 year old who laughs with his two boys at farts and "poo poo" jokes, I can't disagree too whole heartedly. I blame my minister mother for this, somehow. I mean, I was brought up by a woman who can always find a joke ready at a funeral or break the tension in a fight with a wise crack. (to the church: please don't defrock her... she a nice lady all the other times) OK.. I own it... I'm immature. My only defense is that it's my own defense mechanism for all the insanity I see every day.As for maturing, I know that this is the heart of my dilemma. Do I embrace it? I think I'd miss it. Anyway, there are a lot of people that have and are all serious all the time... don't we need a 60 year old that tells grandchildren off color jokes and hides fake cockroaches in his wife's sleeping bag. Sounds a lot more fun than being a CEO of a major corporation to me.... Unless I could dress like Spiderman at work... then I'd rethink my position.
Posts
3 comments:
Mike,
I can only say that all things cry out for balance. Which is one of the reasons I find Zen Buddhism so compelling. They have a sense of humor. Take the following for instance -
Ikkyu, the Zen master, was very clever even as a boy. His teacher had a precious teacup, a rare antique. Ikkyu happened to break this cup and was greatly perplexed. Hearing the footsteps of his teacher, he held the pieces of the cup behind him. When the master appeared, Ikkyu asked, "Why do people have to die?"
"This is natural," explained the older man. "Everything has to die and has just so long to live."
Ikkyu, producing the shattered cup, added, "It was time for your cup to die.
Admittedly its not Howard Sterns, but my point is the same - Don't waste your time mourning -laugh and be happy. Your sense of humor and ability to laugh has enriched my life, and I want you to know how much I am glad that you are a part of my life...Now about that spiderman CEO things...?
-Anthony
p.s. check this out http://www.dharmathecatcartoons.com/
-Anthony
Mike,
I'm with you, I don't think I can ever really mature. I love the good off color joke, Howard Stern, etc. I'm always able to make/laugh at a poo joke. I think some of my immaturity (if you want to call it that) stems from dealing with so much serious stuff at work. I just think it's an outlet. Maybe my patients would like to see a SpiderNurse? I really can't be serious for more than 5 seconds...and even that seems like a long time. Hm, maybe I do need to grow up a little....
Post a Comment