humour – A Value Creating Life

On being authentic

June 18, 2017 Creative BuddhaLeave a comment

I saw this at a not very posh furniture shop and thought about it- a lot. It is trying hard to be something it is definitely not. It is new furniture trying to look as if it is old- with mismatched bits like some cheap chic but ends up looking like an embarrassed DIY effort or worse.

I wondered if we also do this same thing with how we present ourselves- trying too hard to be something we are not. When we imitate others, or present an image of us that is not authentic, not true to ourselves. It is worth keeping this photo in mind when we look at others, celebrities and other famous people, trying to be them. You can only be you, warts and all- that is what this photo teaches me.

filling the world with likes

October 3, 2015 Creative Buddha2 Comments

I am sure you’ve come across ‘haters’ and trolls in your time using the Internet. While the temptation might be to write back, using expletives and anger, there are better ways that stop the haters which I have used successfully-

First, try explaining or asking the hater what they mean? That usually stops them because they don’t want to!
Use humour, without being sarcastic or bitter, to turn their comment into something funny!
‘Like’ their comment. This gets them really puzzled and they stop straightaway. I once had someone getting really angry and argumentative and then stooping to make fun of my name as well. So I ‘liked’ their comment and they stopped.
Ignore them completely and they stop as well! There are some fights you can’t win. Trolls love to have a battle- don’t give in to that.

There is too much hatred in the world already and so the best way to stop that and spread some love is by having a laugh and using ‘likes’. I don’t think I will be using the Facebook ‘Dislike’ button because of this reason.

the reflection

June 2, 2014 Creative BuddhaLeave a comment

“When you bow to a mirror, the reflected image bows back” (Nichiren, 13th C Buddhist monk).

Our environment including the people around us are reflections of us. Whatever lessons they need to teach us are there, right in front of us. It is no point blaming anyone for the people that are placed in your life- just treat them as your teachers, even if they are unpleasant, they are necessary.

I knew a doctor with a husband who was always laughing and joking. I said enviously, “Life must be must be so good with a partner who is always laughing.” She replied,”You don’t know how stressful it is to be married to a clown.” I lost in touch with her and then came across her after 20 years last month. I learnt that she was finally free of the clown (divorced) and happy! She no longer works as a doctor- so what does she do now? Clowning…life is indeed strange! Another friend remarked after hearing of this story, not without irony, “Well, she must have learnt so much from her ex-husband.”

It is so true, we attract what we need to our lives and we learn from these people and circumstances. Like the character in the film, Ground Hog day, we will keep meeting similar people or facing similar circumstances, until we learn the lessons that we need to learn.