Life is analogous to the many dishes found in our modern multi-cultural world — varied and multi-faceted. As to the plethora of spices that adorn these dishes, these can be likened to humor — it’s the spice of life.
Confronted with embarrassment or troubling circumstances, would you choose to wear a grim face, or confront it with a cheerful heart? The following stories may just reshape your outlook!
The gift from the Divine
One day, after having a little drink, a father told his daughter: “You are the best gift from the Divine I have ever received.” He didn’t realize his wife was standing behind him until he heard her voice asking: “And what about me?” He turned around to find her standing there, sternly looking at him, so he quickly replied with a big smile: “Well, it goes without saying. You are Divine!”
Those with a sense of humor take a healthy approach to everything, maintaining a positive attitude. When they encounter difficulties, they often find a way to turn peril into safety.
Humor and politics
In the West, politicians love to make self-deprecating jokes during their campaigns. Apart from making the crowd laugh, it helps to leave a deep impression and may even earn respect from others.
Once, a renowned American statesman visited an elderly person. Upon arriving at the residence, he bumped his head on the low door frame, causing tears of pain. The elder chuckled and said: “It hurts, doesn’t it? The biggest lesson from this visit is this — to thrive and lead a peaceful life, to avoid unnecessary friction, one must often bow their head and humble themselves.” The statesman remembered this lesson well and made ‘humility’ his life principle.
A lesson in wit: Ji Xiaolan’s poem
Legend has it that during the Qing Dynasty, Ji Xiaolan was invited to celebrate the birthday of Lady Wang of Hanlin Academy. Under everyone’s request, he was to write a congratulatory poem.
The first line he wrote was, “This old woman is not human,” leading to stunned silence among the guests. He then penned the next line: “She is a fairy who has descended to the mortal world,” causing a wave of applause from the relieved audience.
His third line stated, “She gave birth to a thief,” once again shocking the guests and even changing the birthday lady’s expression. Finally, he wrote the last line: “A thief who stole the mythical peaches of immortality to offer to his mother,” referring to a revered element of Chinese mythology where peaches grant immortality. The room filled with laughter and applause at his clever and unexpected twist, using humor to turn what initially seemed disrespectful into high praise.
The scholar
A renowned scholar was invited to give a talk at a cultural center. When he was introduced, he accidentally tripped and landed on the floor. The whole room erupted with laughter, leaving the host extremely embarrassed.
After a while, the scholar calmly stood up, straightened his clothes, and said: “Such is life. Once you fall down, you have to get up again!” The audience broke into thunderous applause, his humor dissolving the awkwardness.
The birthday party
Once, an Air Force brigadier general celebrated his birthday by hosting a banquet for his colleagues. During the feast, a nervous aide was assigned to serve the general. As he poured a glass of wine for him, he accidentally spilled some on the general’s bald head as he was serving it to him. Everyone waited with bated breath for the general to get angry and scold him. Instead, the general whispered to the aide: “Sir! Do you think you can cure me of my baldness with this method? If it were effective, I would have done it myself!”
Being humorous does not come naturally to everyone. However, with practice and learning to see the lighter side in everything, one can find joy and laughter even in life’s unexpected challenges. When faced with difficulties, why not try to shift your perspective and look for the humorous side instead of reacting negatively? Remember, a sprinkle of humor combined with positivity can transform even the most awkward situations into favorable ones!
Translated by Eva
