Humor at Work - April Fools' Day

John was a nurse.  Jef and I were "Mental Health Workers" which in psychiatric hospital terms meant glorified aides.  We loved our work and made the best of it to the point of executing some pretty funny practical jokes.

Once when Jef got a phone call, he picked up the receiver and discovered, too late, that someone had put KY Jelly in the earpiece of the phone. Harmless, humorous fun.

On another occasion, John got a phone call.  He picked up the phone and said, "Hello...lo...lo.  Hello...lo...lo. Who...ooo...ooo...is...z...z...this...iss...iss?"  Then he realized that someone had patched the phone into the hospital-wide PA system. Public, humorous fun!

The best and most elaborate joke was at my expense.  I don't have time to go into it here, but suffice it to say that it involved apple juice and an all too realistic specimen jar. The point of these examples is that we had fun at work. We never compromised the integrity of our work, but we made the process of work more enjoyable.

April was National Humor Month.  The month was set aside to respect all things humorous, and it began appropriately with April Fools' Day.  The origin of this "ha-ha-haliday" is not totally clear. It has been suggested that during the 1500's, a new calendar was introduced in which the start of the new year was switched to January. Prior to that, the new year was celebrated in late March and early April. Since communication was not very efficient during the 16th century, those people who unknowingly still celebrated the new year in April were labeled "fools".

I don't think we need a holiday or a particular month to justify using humor. Humor works every day. But April Fools' Day is a nice reminder to let our foolishness come out and play.

Every man is a fool for at least five minutes every day. Wisdom consists in not exceeding the limit.
                                                                 -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Humor in Real Life

You probably read about the protests at the Masters Golf Tournament this year. The USA Today newspaper listed the many different groups that had filed for a permit to protest.  Among them were the People Against Ridiculous Protests (PARP).  The group canceled their planned protest. The founder of the organization indicated that they had made their point just by getting their name in the paper!

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According to another article in USA Today, Ireland plans to ban smoking in pubs and workplaces next year.  One patron of a pub in Dublin said, "What will they do next - ban the drink from the pub because the alcohol's no good for you? None of us would ever get to heaven if we didn't die."

Just Humor

Wise witticisms sent in by an admirer:

A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you're in deep water.

Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without.

You know you're old when you reach down to get the wrinkles out of your panty hose and realize you're not wearing any.

No one ever says, "It's only a game" when their team is winning.

I've reached the age where happy hour is a nap.

Humor in the News

The results of a study reported by the American Psychosomatic Society indicates that happy adults with heart disease are 20% more likely to stay alive longer than equally ill, dour patients. Beverly Brummett of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. reported her study earlier this year.

 

©2003 FUNsulting, etc. Permission is granted to copy this newsletter as long as the following information is included: 

Ronald P. Culberson, MSW, CSP, Director of Everything! at FUNsulting, etc., works with organizations who want their people to lighten up while maintaining a focus on what really matters.  He is an expert on humor and is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), the highest earned award from the National Speakers Association, and is one of less than 450 individuals worldwide who have received this designation. He has provided entertaining and informative programs to over 50,000 people in more than 500 associations, government agencies, non-profit organizations and Fortune 500 companies. To find our more about programs, services and products visit our website at www.funsulting.com or call (703) 742-8812.