With gratitude to Alicia
I enjoy laughing and making jokes. At school used to be one of my favorite things to do. I enjoyed rephrasing songs, creating funny situations, and playing jokes and pranks. Growing up, I learned that it's not always a fun experience for those receiving them. By learning from the best mentor I could possibly have: Antonio Cova, I developed a teaching style that combines deep theory and good jokes, making my teaching practice delightful for both me and my students (based on how much they laugh and the good grades).
After I moved to my new country, it took me years to make jokes in the language I was learning. It's not just about good pronunciation; it's about what's culturally funny and acceptable. When you grow up in the Caribbean, it's quite easy to cross lines and make inappropriate jokes. Nowadays, I can incorporate some good jokes into my technical presentations. Now that I don't teach, I can be funny again when I deliver my messages or coach others.
Honestly, I like to laugh and make people laugh. When I’m able to craft a laugh for every person I interact with, I call it a great day. My kids sometimes say, “Mom, I don't think you were working since you were laughing so hard”. To be honest, I kind of avoid people who never laugh. My morning ritual involves kissing my kids, telling them how handsome they look, and making sure they have at least 30 laughs... Somewhere I read that's a good number.
Don't get me wrong: I also cry a lot, and I get mad often lol. However, this post is about loving and looking for laughter.
About me
Over the past few years, I have been experiencing positional vertigo and fainting. Is nothing serious, in fact, it is not a disease. It's a condition, which means I'm not in danger, but isn't going to disappear either. Some doctors said it might be, but there is no treatment.
Trying to climb dreams while dizzy and possibly fainting is a very bad combination, because the pendent is hard and you see the reality as more challenging than it is. And everyone just gives such a meaningless advice: relax!
Sure, take a deep breath when everything is spinning like a disco ball or you have a blackout and the next thing you know is your loved ones are asking if your head hurts after falling. Relax and try not to think about it happening again. Try to relax being the solo woman talking in front of 5, or 10, or even 20 guys, being the expert in the area. Don't worry about your sticky accent or how many times someone laughs when you pronounce "sheet" wrongly (yes, I often say Google shit, which isn't always inaccurate lol, but that's another discussion). Relax as well when you make a huge mistake and don't have time to cry, since you need to recover the mess and deploy. When your kids are fighting and yelling for a lost toy, the house is a mess, and you've got a tight deadline.
In reality, we fall everyday, we feel dizzy every day. Even without vertigo, everyday life can be overwhelming and makes us crumble. And we know we have to do to stand up, clean our knees, and get back in the ring. But how?
Standing up … with Fun
As a child, I loved watching comedians. Now they are known as stand-up comedians. Although I've dreamed of becoming one, I'm too shy to do so. Making jokes in a class or meeting room is one thing. However, performing in front of strangers is like playing on a whole new level out of my comfort zone.
Looking to improve my presentation skills, I took the amazing opportunity to join a 101 Stand up comedy course. I thought it was a fun thing to do, but I was not expecting a life-changing experience. I confirmed everything requires planning and dedication. I'm a nerd, so I plan to plan. Whether it's a presentation, a meeting, or an interview, I prepare for everything. But I always thought a comedian was making the jokes on the fly, because you know, they are funny people. They are amazing professionals preparing everything, letter by letter.
I took this training at the right time. I took advantage of the pandemic and lockdown as a moment to meditate and reconnect with my roots and my inner self. It was a time for a huge life detox and organization in my priorities. I felt dizziness and fainting fear, driven by taking tough decisions and accepting myself as a weirdo who loves to swim against the current.
Alicia Dattner was my mentor this time. Holding her hand, I’m standing up for myself. I found my laughter source within my soul by connecting deeply with my inner voice, increasing my spark of life into a roaring flame. While the fear will probably always be there, I can now face it and tell them a good joke.
Stand up for yourself, face your fears... and if you like fun, tell them a good joke.
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