Laugh It Up, Chuckles...

“Laughing at yourself is a form of humility- and a great way to let go of control.”

I seem to be relating a lot of blog posts to advice given to be at YAGM orientation, but I suppose it’s a testament to the amazing people and organization that made this year possible for me. Knowing that I prepared for this year of service for nearly 8 months, it is assuring to know that all the preparation was well worth it and can be valuable in day-to-day life at SPEC.

If you have been keeping up with my blog, you might remember a little issue I had with my control. This year is helping me explore why I find comfort in it, what happens when I let go of it, and how I can better be a player of this game called life without necessarily having the controller in my hands.

This aforementioned quotable from Orientation merges together two concepts I know a lot about. 1. Control 2. Laughter It’s merging these two together (or perhaps keeping them separate) that has gotten my wheels turning recently.

I’ll be the first to admit that laughing at yourself is not always an easy task. Easier said than done. I’m not sure I can think of a family who loves a good laugh more than the Diehms- and I am thankful that Bill and Sue have instilled such a humor gene in their three kids. (Who else experienced the likes of Stripes, Major League, and Saturday Night Live before/alongside learning how to ride a bike?) I believe American popular culture is part of the problem. (Always easy to blame society, right?) We are surrounded by an ideal based upon laughing and making fun of others…either at their request or their expense. Sure not all American humor is laughing at others, but a type of “glad that’s not me!” laughing mentality clearly is present. Think Ben Stiller in Meet the Parents/Fockers…

But what happens when it is you? Do you become defensive? Do you shrug it off? Do you laugh on the outside while deep down you’re hurt? Do you enjoy it? We are taught that it is healthy to laugh at yourself- but I’m sure we all can answer “yes” to all of these questions at one point or another.

Though I come from a humor-based lifestyle, I have been much more in tune to humor and its implications this past month than I am at home. At home, humor is natural and second-nature. Here in England, as in any cross-cultural experience, humor can cross cultural lines; it can also divide them. Living in community with co-workers from 10 different countries is proving to be quite the social experiment in laughter. Being aware of all of this while still keeping elements of who I am alive and kicking (including what makes me laugh) is essential. Some of the strongest connections I have made thus far at SPEC can be contributed to finding common smiles and humor in unlikely places. Laughter breaks down all kinds of barriers while working with teens on retreat- Teenagers can really benefit from a “laugh at yourself” role model, a role I will continually strive to fill.

SPEC recently purchased a new MacBook. One of my jobs this week was to get it out and become acclimated, read the manual etc. I am in a committed and content relationship with my PC--- but I don’t doubt Mac Photobooth’s ability to be an amazing cross-cultural laugh fest. Irina from Germany and I were the first to test it out. Laughing until your belly hurts and tears stream down your face from images of your own distorted face….that, my friends, is a lesson in humility and letting go of control!

Ohhh and don’t get me started about words and phrases getting “lost in translation”
From German/Hungarian etc. to English but also U.S English to English.
Take note:
“Trousers” are to England as “pants” are to the United States.
“Pants” are to England as “underwear” is to the United States.

In the event of a rainy day in England (likely), if American Marta exclaims, “Ahh my pants are all wet!!” (It has happened)….. well then, American Marta has learned yet another lesson in laughing at herself. You can only imagine the variations of the pants/underwear hilarity. (Go ahead—think of more—especially you, Gretchen Diehm.)

I will embrace the merging of my two current favorite concepts, letting go of control and humor. If you are familiar with the range of Marta laughs (“Woody the woodpecker”, big ole belly laugh, silent “nothing coming out” smirk, high pitched wheeze…), rest assured they have all been introduced to the SPEC community and are alive and well!




I will open up the floor for dialogue. Hint Hint: leave me a comment!
Do YOU benefit from laughing at yourself?
Do you agree that it is easier said that done?
Can you have control and laughter simulanteously?
I’d LOVE to hear what my blog readers have to say!!   (Perhaps I’m just longing for my discussion-based Capital classes?)


I dedicate this blog post to my fellow YAGMs— many of whom I have shared several tears of laughter and distress. I pray that you all are finding humor in your day to day lives worldwide. Hugs to you all!

And to Heidi Torgerson-Martinez—who provided this insight initially - and who remains one of the biggest supporters of my attempt at keeping the “control key” far away from the tap of my typing fingers.

Shining my light and laughing at myself,
Marta