Unemployment and laughter

Unemployment and the benefits of laughter:

There seems to be this malady that has plagued me over the past few (or is it many) years. It is called unemployment. Why does it seem to come knocking at my door more often than I want? Perhaps my brother’s blunt appraisal from a few years ago says it all. He stated; “Haven’t you learned to suck up to your boss yet?”

Perhaps it is true; I have not learned to suck up yet. However, being somewhat of an optimist, what I have learned to do is: the jobs assigned to me, treat my colleagues and supervisors with compassion and respect, keep the physical environment clean, (when I make a mess, I clean it up), maintain a pleasant and professional decorum, avoid office politics and gossip, show up on time, learn new skills, share my skills and insight, and accept my personal responsibilities.

Acknowledging the reality of unemployment is the first step to getting the next career opportunity and keeping a positive attitude about any difficult situation. Having endured bouts of unemployment over the past decade, I have developed some personal remedies and insights that help to keep despair from entering into the mainstream of consciousness.

One of those remedies is humor and or laughter. Research has shown that the health benefits of laughter are far-ranging. While more studies need to be done, studies so far have shown that laughter can help relieve pain, bring greater happiness, and even increase immunity. In particular, laughter reduces the level of stress hormones, it serves as a physical and emotional release, it provides an internal workout for the abs and shoulders, it is a distraction from negative emotions, it can alter your perspective to be less threatening and more positive, and it provides social benefits. I personally connect better with people who appreciate my humorous outlook. All these attributes are beneficial when you are feeling the stress of any particular life trial.

With that in mind I created a list of the positive attributes of being unemployed:

• You have a ready response to telemarketers. I am unemployed and don’t have any money. Would you like to help me out?
• You can actually stop and smell the roses, or the coffee, or the backed up sewer; whatever floats your boat.
• The birds you see are flying in your back yard; they are not the middle digit on the hand of the irate commuter in the car next to you.
• You can have a leisurely conversation with the nice crossing guards at your child’s elementary school.
• If you are a parent, you have time to volunteer at the PTA and hang out with the parents of your child’s classmates.
• You don’t have to worry about getting the perfect holiday or celebratory gift.
• Friends buy drinks for you.
• You don’t have to practice good hygiene every day.
• Your clothes last longer.
• You don’t have to change your clothes to go to bed or when you get out of bed.
• The snooze button has no relevance.
• You no longer are obligated to endure Special High Intensity Training (S.H.I.T.) *
• NUMBER ONE REASON: Having fun with my children and being around to watch them grow!!!

I hope you have a wonderful experience today and everyday henceforth.

About fillfreedom

What is there to say about me? I am not sure if I am typical or not, average or not, smart or not, BUT I think I definitely have a sense of humor. I am an aging baby boomer wondering if I have something to say about the world as I see it.