Tag Archives: humor

7th post for #bloganuary (a WordPress event)

The Prompt: What makes you laugh?

Answer: Me. And I mean that seriously.

Seriously Unserious (a serious essay about silliness, seriously!)

(originally published July 25, 2021 on Monty’s Scribbles)

Silliness is not a frivolous exercise for me. But rather a battle for some semblance of sanity. My brain tends to drain into downward spirals. Things tend to get pretty damn dark after awhile. The facts don’t matter so much. The dream house. The loving wife. The healthy kids. These are just idiosyncrasies in a life too good for me. Emotionally, I feel unworthy.

So what to do when I’m feeling blue? It makes no sense so there is no amount of evidence that will support a winning defense. A logical argument just gets twisted and warped within my noggin. I’m wired for self-flogging. The answer is a cliché. Let me explain my way. The best defense against my negativity is a seriously unserious offense. Truthfully, it’s quite silly. Literally.

“Haha”, I force a fake laugh. “Hehe” I yelp, hoping it will help. Sometimes I speak in garbely gook, a language of nonsensical sounds that usually have a rhyming hook. Once I’ve found my sound, It becomes my dance track. My body starts to move like a moose that just lost its rack. Unburdened. Clumsily leaping and lurching to freedom’s beat.  Never looking back.

Onlookers may call me crazy. Except young kids. They understand me. They join in with their very own whoop and holler. No need to fake their laughter. They’ve yet to forget that silliness is a sure-all cure-all to the doldrums. Kids are wired for play. That’s why they are so resilient against all of life’s trials thrown their way. Then we “grow-up.” We forfeit our silliness for seriousness and life becomes injurious. 

But usually this is a solo affair. Just me flailing strangely in the air. Starting off forced and fake, a true laugh starts to overtake. I twist and turn in a mental dance. My downward spiral spinning into an upward swirl. Silliness lifts my spirit. I don’t know why I keep forgetting this. That’s what this essay is for. A reminder for when I’m feeling down and unsure.

Silliness, my drug of choice. Yes, some side effects. Most notably strange looks. But trust me it’s worth it. I’m speaking to me as much as to you. For I’m in a moment of need. “Haha”. “Hehe”. Off I go. This is going to be one hell of a weird dance show. Let’s get up while getting down. It’s time to go to silly town.

Be well,

Monty

• Alt-Scenes From This Morning’s Walk
  Be well, Monty
• Idol
  Be well, Monty
• Chic-a-Taup-e-Tan (a Paint Chip Poem)
  No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “Chic-a-Taup-e-Tan (a Paint Chip Poem)”
• Earth Tones
  Be well, Monty
• Silver Lining June Round-Up
  At the beginning of June I invitated all of you poets (or potential poets, which is all of you) out there to join me inContinue reading “Silver Lining June Round-Up”
• Bloom
  Be well, Monty
• Kiss
  Be well, Monty
• Dancing Figures
  Be well, Monty
• Playful Colors
  Be well, Monty
• Double Coffee Bean with Chocolate Cream Swirl (a Paint Chip Poem)
  No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “Double Coffee Bean with Chocolate Cream Swirl (a Paint Chip Poem)”
• Iris
  Be well, Monty
• Approaching Thoughts
  Be well, Monty
• Four Self-Portraits
  Be well, Monty
• Watch Me (Sunday Scribblings)
  Peckapalooza over at The Confusing Middle runs a weekly prompt called Sunday Scribblings. Check out his post and join in the creativity! Sunday Scribblings #110Continue reading “Watch Me (Sunday Scribblings)”
• Higher Imaginations (a Paint Chip Poem)
  No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “Higher Imaginations (a Paint Chip Poem)”
• Rose (a Paint Chip Poem)
  No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “Rose (a Paint Chip Poem)”
• 2022 Intentions – May Reflections
  Note: I wrote this a couple weeks ago already but life decided to throw me a little curve ball in the form of a kidneyContinue reading “2022 Intentions – May Reflections”
• Blue Dance (a Paint Chip Poem)
  No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “Blue Dance (a Paint Chip Poem)”
• Welcome to Silver Lining June (an invitation)
  Here’s an invitation to all of you poets (or potential poets, which is all of you) out there to join me in Silver Lining June.Continue reading “Welcome to Silver Lining June (an invitation)”
• The Critter
  I took this picture over the summer and have been trying to figure out what to do with it ever since. I’ve now come toContinue reading “The Critter”
• Gem (Sunday Scribblings)
  Peckapalooza over at The Confusing Middle runs a weekly prompt called Sunday Scribblings. Check out his post and join in the creativity! Sunday Scribblings #107Continue reading “Gem (Sunday Scribblings)”
• City of Wood (a Paint Chip Poem)
  No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “City of Wood (a Paint Chip Poem)”
• A Miracle
  Another good reminder for myself. Originally published in Thirteen Words. Be well, Monty
• Joyful Jack
  Yesterday, upon returning home. Jack was super happy and excited to see me. Without a bath or a trim in over a month he isContinue reading “Joyful Jack”
• Day 18: Going Home
  For appropriate context, you will want to first read these posts: “Eleven Days Ago” , “Day 12”, and “Day 13”. This afternoon we will beContinue reading “Day 18: Going Home”
• Thirteen Spice
  I picked up a snack at the hospital lobby cafe. It’s a Thirteen Spice crawfish flavored pretzel stick (pic below). I’m a big fan ofContinue reading “Thirteen Spice”
• Found Poetry x Wordle
  So I have an idea that combines two of my favorite things and creates what I hope might be a new favorite thing. I loveContinue reading “Found Poetry x Wordle”
• Vanilla (Sunday Scribblings)
  Peckapalooza over at The Confusing Middle runs a weekly prompt called Sunday Scribblings. Check out his post and join in the creativity! Sunday Scribblings #106Continue reading “Vanilla (Sunday Scribblings)”
• Escape to Red (a Paint Chip Poem)
  No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “Escape to Red (a Paint Chip Poem)”
• Life is a Detour
  A good reminder to myself today. Originally published in Monty’s Very Short Shorts. Be well, Monty
• Dead Leg Piñata
  Do they make piñatas for the Day of the Dead? Or perhaps horrifying piñatas could become a thing for Halloween parties in the future (orContinue reading “Dead Leg Piñata”