3 Reasons I’m Not Funny

I’d like to thank my friends Wes Kohring and Rob Sellars for providing me informational videos on how to fold flat sheets.

Yesterday’s post was a glimpse at my ability to rant about meaningless things.  It’s fun for me.  I know a few others laughed.  However, over the years I’ve had people think and dare to say I’m not very funny…In their opinion.

By the title of this post you may think that I’m in a self-depracating, low self-esteem place.  Not true.  I actually laugh at my jokes more than anyone, because I actually get them.  But here are three reasons people have suggested I’m not very funny.

1. I’m a Dork – Being a dork is not about be laughed with, but laughed at.  Then a line is crossed and suddenly people stare in wonder at the things that come out of your mouth or your ability to be THAT clumsy.  A friend once said I had the sarcasm of “Chandler” from Friends and the eccentric clumsiness of “Kramer” from Seinfeld.  For a while, I even had the nickname, “Krandler.”  Being a dork always brings entertainment to someone else, whether you mean to or not.  Just don’t expect requests for encores.  Usually you’re only a topic of laughter a few years down the road when people reminisce at your goofiness.
2. My Jokes Are “Old” – Being a dork means while my friends are watching the latest comedies, I’m still watching re-runs of “The Andy Griffith Show” and an assortment of African American sitcoms from the 70’s like “Good Times” or “Sanford and Son” so my greatest one-liners are decades old an have no context or meaning to most people alive today.  This plays out when I stand with a group of friends laughing and suddenly I decide I have a zinger to bring down the house.  I interject my punch-line from 1973 and the sound of a cricket farm in a distant land like Viet Nam is suddenly heard loud and clear after the deafening silence.  Why would the Vietnamese have cricket farms?  I don’t know.  See number one.
3. My Nerdery Is from a Rare Nerdom – Everyone has a nerdy side.  Even the coolest jock-type personality is probably obsessed with a favorite brand of sporting gear.  Or something.  But my nerdery is about Apple products, classical choral music, and random facts about musical artists from the 1980’s.  When I attempt to bring what is relevant in my life into a normal conversation, it is usually met with questions of, “What are you talking about?”

Again, I cannot stress enough to you that I believe I’m funny.  That’s why I’m quick to throw out one-liners in meetings, rehearsals and even a funeral or two.  The problem with my sense of humor is not me, but those who don’t understand me, which is basically everyone but me.  Which by deductive reasoning means…I’m not very funny.

Can I live with this?  I do everyday.

There really is a lesson here.  Can you live with yourself?  We all have areas in our lives to improve and areas we want to make better.  But are you able to look at your personality, weaknesses, strengths and quirkiness and accept yourself for who you really are?

As creative people we introduce concepts from only ideas in our heads.  If we don’t learn to be comfortable in our own skin, we’ll never be brave enough to export those ideas into the world.  There are areas of habit, knowledge, maturity and spirituality that demand we do not settle and constantly push toward growth.  However, we can’t forget the beauty of being ourselves.  After all, God created us that way.

Questions for the Day…

• Have you ever struggled with accepting yourself as you are?
• Can you make a list of criticisms others have about you and objectively decided which needs attention or rejection?
• Have you ever thanked God for fearfully and wonderfully creating you to be exactly who you are?

Go enjoy your quirky self.  Don’t be a jerk.  Strive for excellence.  Allow God to convict and transform you.  But don’t forget God’s creative image flows best from you, when you are completely yourself.