| GET MORE LAUGHTER IN YOUR LIFE! David Granirer - North America's Psychotherapist/Stand-Up Comic Volume 1, Issue 10 Editor: David Granirer, mailto:granirer@pro.net Publisher: David Granirer http://www.granirer.com Please help us grow by forwarding this e-zine on to others! IN THIS ISSUE 1. Welcome From The Publisher 2. Using Humor To Boost Morale 3. What's Good Stories 4. Classified Ads 5. Contact Information PRIVACY STATEMENT: WE WILL NOT DISTRIBUTE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO ANYONE. PERIOD. 1. WELCOME FROM THE PUBLISHER Last month I asked people to send in good lines they came up with as a result of reading my article on how to find the humor in adverse situations. Here are my two favorites: Terry Oakes of Fredricton, NB wrote: "I love being dumped by my wife because now I don't have to listen to her talk about how she's going to dump me if I don't listen to her." Teri MacLean of Madeira Park, B.C. wrote: "I love having fibromyalgia, because with this type of brain fog everything is always brand new - even movies that I've watched a dozen times." *****Come Have A Laugh!***** My stand-up comedy shows continue at Cafe Madeleine, 3763 West 10th Ave, Vancouver. Clean, intelligent comedy in a smoke-free environment, Fridays at 8:00 p.m. Reservations recommended (604) 224-5558. Bring in this newsletter and buy one entree, get second for 50% off. Opening the show are students from my Langara College Stand-Up Comedy Clinic Course. If you've ever had a dream to do comedy, my 8-week Stand-Up Comedy Clinic Course at Langara College starts on Oct 10 and 11 (I'm running 2 sections this term). To register call Langara at 323-5322, course #104101. To see testimonials from people who have taken the course go to http://www.granirer.com/ComedyCourse.htm 2. USING HUMOR TO BOOST MORALE by David Granirer © 2000 It's a common theme. An organization keeps cutting staff until the people left feel like they can't cope anymore. Unfortunately, the organization I'm thinking of didn't take into account what this would do to the morale of the "survivors." Management was unwilling to listen to their concerns, and when anyone did voice them, they were labeled as disloyal. Teamwork plummeted, with employees adopting a "me first" attitude. The office atmosphere was poisonous, rife with gossip, rumors, and back-stabbing. "This feels like hell. I'd never recommend this company to anyone, and I just hope I can survive until I take early retirement," said one long-term employee. Like workers in many organizations, this group found themselves in a bad situation where it had no control. Sadly though, they were not encouraged make use of humor, the one coping mechanism they had left. Instead it was seen by management as a frivolous waste of time, a sentiment which came to be echoed by the employees. "We're living in hell. We're too busy to laugh, and besides, it won't change anything," was a common refrain among those I talked to. However, they were wrong. According to Steve Lipman, who researched the use of humor during the Holocaust, "Wit produced on the precipice of hell was not frivolity but psychological necessity. Humor is one of the greatest gifts God gave mankind to pull itself out of despair." In today's uncertain work environment, humor isn't an option, it's a necessary way to boost morale. When employees clown around, they're not wasting valuable time, they're making use of one of the few tools available to increase and maintain their esprit de corps. Laughter may not change the external reality, but it can certainly help people survive it. And this has been proven in some pretty dire situations. Lipman cites an example of how a group of Auschwitz inmates put on vaudeville shows to provide laughter for the camp population. According to one, "We had to make jokes to save ourselves from deep depression." Somehow these people on the brink of death realized that their morale and survival depended on keeping their ability to laugh alive. As a group, they took the time and energy to make it happen. And that's the whole point of this article. In order for humor to happen, we have to make it happen. It's a matter of taking personal responsibility to go out of our way to initiate it on a regular basis. So I challenge you folks reading this to do something humorous at work, sometime within the next week. Remember, my definition of humor is: Acts involving surprise which create good feelings. So it doesn't just have to involve telling a joke. Go out and buy someone a coffee, bring a rubber chicken, Groucho glasses or some Hersheys Kisses to work. Surprise someone by catching them doing something right and acknowledging them for it. And be creative. There are lots of things we can do that surprise and make people feel good. Since humor is contagious, think of what you'll be setting in motion if every one of the 900 people who get this ezine participate! I'd also be thrilled if you'd email me short stories at granirer@pro.net about what humorous things you've done so I can include some of them in next month's issue. Hopefully your stories will inspire and give people more ideas about how they can use humor at work. Anyone who's story I use will get a choice of either a free copy of my "I'm OK But YOU Need Professional Help!" audio tape or my 12 Steps For The Humorously Challenged" poster. HEALING THROUGH COMEDY I'm running a special 10 week course called "COMIC COURAGE: HEAL YOURSELF THROUGH STAND-UP COMEDY" at the The Healing Centre at Vancouver Hospital starting October 10, where people with health problems and other challenges empower themselves by taking their stress and trauma and turning it into a comedy routine! This course combines comedy and therapy, and is for anyone who wants to use their sense of humor to overcome setbacks and adversity. It takes place on Tuesday afternoons from 1-4 pm. To register call (604) 875-8284, or call me for more information (604) 205- 9242 or go to http://www.granirer.com/ComedyCourse.htm My ultimate dream is to do a special stand-up comedy course for cancer patients. I think it would be incredibly healing for these folks to get up on stage and speak their truth to a roomful of people who laugh and applaud, not to mention a great way of dispelling the stigma of what it means to have cancer. If anyone out there has any ideas of who to connect with to get funding and support for this course(drug companies, cancer groups etc.) please let me know at granirer@pro.net or call (604) 205-9242. For other free articles about laughter go to http://www.granirer.com/Articles.htm For free back issues of this ezine go to http://www.granirer.com/Newsletter.htm *****GET MORE LAUGHTER IN YOUR LIFE!***** Check out David's tapes, posters, buttons at http://www.granirer.com/Products.htm 3. WHAT'S GOOD STORIES It's so easy to see all the bad things around us, that sometimes we forget about all the great things that go on. And we need to hear about good things because that gives us hope and inspires us to go out and do more good things. In this section, I want to hear from you. What's happened in your life that's good? What things have people done that inspire you to be kind to others? What funny things have happened? Email your short stories to me at granirer@pro.net, and if I publish yours, you get a free copy of my tape "I'm OK But YOU Need Professional Help!" This month we have two stories. The first is from Teri MacLean: I was comparing notes with my sister in law about the unexpected things that come out of the mouths of babes, when she told me how the youngest of her 5 sons answered the phone one day. The principal called to discuss the eldest son. When the four year old answered, the principal asked "Can I speak to your mommy?" "Mommy's in the shower." "Well can I speak to your Daddy?" "No, he's in the shower with Mommy". Oops! The second story was submitted by Roan Craig of Canfield, Ohio Last year I was a principal in a vocational school. Our culinary arts students work in the cafeteria. As I was going through the line, I noticed that mashed potatoes were on the menu. Hoping they were made from scratch and not instant, I asked the student, "Are those REAL mashed potatoes?" She looked at me, looked at the potatoes, and then looked at me again. She then asked me, "You CAN see them, can't you?" DO A GOOD DEED! Help fight world hunger and save the rainforests! If you go to the hunger site http://www.thehungersite.com and the rainforest site http://www.therainforestsite.com and click on the appropriate buttons they will donate food to a hungry person and also help save the rainforests. You can visit these sites once a day to make donations. The site is sponsored by various businesses who fund the donations in exchange for exposure and good PR. However, to make a donation there is nothing you need to buy. 4. CLASSIFIED ADS Speakers: Learn how to incorporate stand-up comedy into your presentations. Check out David's stand-up comedy skills coaching for presenters at: http://www.granirer.com/ComedyCourse.htm 5. CONTACT INFORMATION David Granirer gives laughter in the workplace presentations helping hundreds of organizations throughout North America reduce stress, increase wellness, and cope with change. For more information on his presentations, stand-up comedy, products, and articles call (604) 205-9242 or go to http://www.granirer.com. Special thanks to http://www.e-zinez.com
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