Heyokah – I am My Biggest Joke on Myself

Because of who I am and how my life has been, I tend to view life very seriously, with a grave demeanor as I  look over my work and how I live my life. All too often, life then proceeds to serve me up with a banana peel so I can take a prat fall and lose every bit of my dignity as I slip and fall to the ground. Or drop that big piece of food down my shirt, which leaves a large stain on my light colored shirt. In other words, something will happen that I can either laugh or cry at. The lesson is learning that it’s all funny, that I take myself way too seriously and that I need to lighten up. Heyokah!

The two months has been a transition period for me as I have gained a great deal of insight into myself and as such, I have been very serious.  I have been pondering over what I’ve done wrong, how I will never change and how I am stuck in a rut. And during this whole time of beating up on myself, feeling lonely I never think of asking for someone for help. I finally realized that I was purposely closing myself off when I most needed help, feeling miserable when someone, actually many people, were around who would be willing to lend me a hand. I finally realized that one evening and I had to laugh at how silly I had been. I had been complaining to myself of how lonely I was when I was purposely keeping myself closed off. While that may not be the largest joke I can play on myself, I suspect it ranks up there on a top ten list.

And so, the concept of heyokah, the sacred clown, the trickster, reminded me once again that I need to lighten up. I had a couple more lessons of laughing at myself, one at refusing to let go of something that caused me great pain and another one that I can’t remember now, but I do remember that it was pretty funny once I got the joke. So, remember, if things are looking way too serious, you aren’t sure how you are going to get through, take a look around to see what practical joke you are preparing to play on yourself. Now, for a joke to share, to help you lighten up. 🙂

A religious man wonders if having sex on the Sabbath is a sin because he is not sure if sex is work or play. He asks a priest for his opinion on this question. The priest says after consulting the Bible, “My son, after an exhaustive search I am positive sex is work and is not permitted the Sabbath.” The man thinks: ” What does a priest know about sex?” He goes to a minister… a married man, experienced, for the answer. He queries the minister and receives the same reply. Sex is work and not for the Sabbath! Not pleased with the reply, he seeks out the ultimate authority, a man of thousands of years tradition and knowledge: a rabbi. The rabbi ponders the question and states, “My son, sex is definitely play.” The man replies, “Rabbi, how can you be so sure when so many others tell me sex is work?!” The rabbi softly speaks, “If sex were work . . . my wife would have the maid do it.”