INNER STRENGTH ◽ YOU
It all started with my son Matthew and a magic trick. You know how sometimes you can look at something, practically stare at it, but your brain is clearly not computing? Well imagine what happens when stubbornness kicks in and you keep saying to yourself, no I’m right. The following story is a great tale of laughter at myself.
It’s a Saturday afternoon and Matthew prepared to once again amaze family and friends with his magic tricks. He and I were sitting on the couch. Brendan was behind me and friends of ours were across from the living room coffee table. Oh, and let’s not forget the watchful dog, of course. It was my turn. As a heads up, the details of the trick itself aren’t what matters. It’s the ironic way everything unfolded at the end.
“Choose three cards,” he said to me with (of course) his game face. “Look at them. Don’t show them to me and keep them in your hands.”
So, fast forward…It was supposed to be an easy yes or no answer.
“Yes,” I said, nodding my head, as if I was happy to answer, supportive of his successful trick.
Then came what I did not expect – the shake of his head, and Matthew laughing, “No.”
“Yes,” I repeated only this time with even more confidence.
Then came more laughter, only this time not just from Matthew. The whole room got louder and louder with laughter. I was seriously confused. Why were they laughing at me?
“No,” Matthew continued.
I have to show him my cards then, I thought. So, I put them on the table.
“See?”
The laughter got even stronger.
“What?”
Finally I was laughing at seeing Matthew laughing. I couldn’t help it, though. Deep down it was very bothersome.
Finally, he showed me his cards. No one had stopped laughing this whole time. Oh my goodness. My hand went over my eyes. I tilted my head down and shook it slowly side to side. The laughter began to disseminate slowly. That’s when it hit me.
I was so embarrassed!
I wasn’t laughing out loud anymore, but I did crack a smile. I couldn’t believe I had been staring at three cards for minutes but was thinking the wrong suit the whole time! I am just glad Matthew finally came to my rescue.
Here are some takeaways that I want to share with you:
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Laughter really is contagious. We can get so busy wanting to say the right thing for the support of another, that our brain stops processing information correctly. Instead, it’s like our brain has a film of emotion clouding it.
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There really is such a thing as laughing at the situation.
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Most importantly, it takes inner strength to laugh at yourself in front of your kids, with your kids.
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If you ever experience this, I encourage you to cherish it as quality time together filled with laughter, humility, and the reminder that even we adults mess up…even if it’s embarrassing.
If I can do it, so can you!