Lately I feel as if I have had surgical removal of the funny bone. Life just doesn’t seem all that humorous these days and I guess that has been reflected in my recent posts. So dour. So serious. So boring. I do have a sense of humor. It just seems that I have misplaced it. You get distracted with all these issues….money issues, relationship issues, the horrid hangovers from the drinking inspired by all those money and relationship issues. And then wamo, you realize one morning that you haven’t laughed in quite a while. So this morning I thought I would post on a lighter note. Because in reality life as an expat in Costa Rica is filled with humor…..if you look for it. Usually the humor comes in the form of me making a fool of myself. And it usually has something to do with my deficiences concerning the Spanish language. Such as using the wrong word or the right word in the wrong context. You have to be able to laugh at yourself a little, especially when times are tough. If you take yourself too seriously as an expat in Costa Rica, no one will like you very much. You won’t have too many friends, except maybe other expats who are making the same mistake and finding themselves isolated as a result. And it is a good idea to learn to appreciate Latin humor as well. When it comes to jokes, it seems that Latin people don’t “get” jokes from foreigners and likewise foreigners don’t seem to comprehend Latin humor. Latin humor is more slapstick and silly than it is biting and satirical, such as the humor you would see on Saturday Night Live. There are not too many ticos who would appreciate that sort of humor, maybe because it is so directly aimed at U.S. politics and culture. But also because Latin culture is far less cynical than is U.S. culture. Notice I didn’t say skeptical, because Latinos are indeed highly skeptical. But skepticism and cynicism are not synonmous. A skeptic may have doubts about what you say until proven otherwise. A cynic will have those same doubts and will hate you if proven otherwise. But we need humor in our lives. Dr. Norman Cousins demonstrated in his famous book, Anatomy of an Illness, that laughter not only has emotionally healing qualities, but can promote physical healing as well. Lately I have been so focused on problems and difficulties in my life that I have begun to feel physically, as well as emotionally, sick. So it is high time that I “lightened up” a bit and begin to once again enjoy life. And life is always a lot more enjoyable when you are wearing a big smile while experiencing it. What if there is nothing to smile about, you ask? Well take a look in the mirror for starters, that should give you a good laugh!
This is funny….blond typing for first time on computer…..
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