Humility, Humor, and Humanity

"Angels fly because they can take themselves lightly."
G. K. Chesterton

TALES OF TWO PAINTERS

The early years of the great painter Paul Cezanne were
difficult and his career was, from the very start,
troubled with frequent rejection and failure. His
family considered him peculiar and were
unsupportive of his art.

After much family turmoil in his younger years,
his father gave him a small allowance and he left
for Paris where he worked alone and ignored.

Another painter Camille Pissarro became his mentor
both lending him moral support, and influencing his
palette. Cezanne, in a relatively short time period, switched
from dark tones to bright colors.

Cezanne produced beautiful works as an unknown painter for
many, many years. His commitment to, and passion for,
his art was strong and unwavering and he did not strive
for fame or even lesser recognition.

One day, a French art dealer happened to see the masterpieces
of Cezanne. He was so impressed that he collected several
of the paintings and arranged an exhibition in his gallery.
Visitors to the dealer’s gallery were stunned as they saw
for the first time the works of the unknown master.

The story goes that Cezanne arrived at the gallery and was
also stunned. He had never before seen his work featured
and admired this way. He walked around looking at his
paintings, leaning on his son for support. Slowly he turned
his head and looked at his son in surprise and awe. Cezanne
then said, “They have put them in frames!”

And the second painter story: Picasso was being interviewed
by an inexperienced critic. The critic asked why Picasso did
not paint things to look as they actually do.

“I am not sure what you mean,” Picasso replied.

The critic took a photo of his wife out of his wallet and
showed it to Picasso saying, “Like this. This is how she
really looks.”

Picasso looked at the photo and said, “She’s quite small.
And rather flat.”

HUMMING ALONG

Two of the excellent “hum” words are illustrated by these
stories -- humility and humor. Humility and humor are
interconnected. One sure way to see their relationship is
the I Can Laugh Now phenomenon.

Have you ever had something happen to you that seemed
awful at the time but now, as you look back at it, you say,
“I can laugh now . . .” The time between the supposed
awful event and the I Can Laugh Now is much shorter for
a person with a good sense of humor than for those living
in the Drama Zone.

People with a sense of humor can watch themselves and
laugh at their own trials and tribulations. They have
humility. Because they can laugh, they have hope for
themselves, others and our often crazy world.

The deadly serious people in the Drama Zone, the ones who
almost never say, “I can laugh now . . .”, often have no hope
and thus may not honor the glorious strength of
humanity -- the human spirit. Humility, humor, humanity
-- wonderful, hmm?

And Today . . .

Today make yourself an I CAN LAUGH NOW notebook.
Write down all the stories of your times of trial
and tribulation about which this day you say, “I can laugh
now . . .” Add to it as the days go by. Laugh as you write.
Remember how good laughter is for you and laugh some more.

Shorten the time between trying events and “I can laugh
now . . .” so your book of stories can grow faster. When you
shorten the time, your sense of humor will grow, too.

Tell your stories to others, lots of others, and you can bet
they will laugh with you. Some of the best humor comes
from I Can Laugh Now stories. Your I CAN LAUGH NOW notebook
will be a gift to yourself and to other people in your life. Can
you hear the giggles now?

And can you feel your angel wings sprouting as you take
yourself lightly?