News from The Humor Project

Hello! Happy Fall (in the Northern Hemisphere)!

September is filled with with lots of fun! CHASE’S CALENDAR OF EVENTS tells us that in this month, we can celebrate the Wisconsin State Cow-Chip Throw (I hope you’re in the moo-d), the National Championship Lawn Mower Race (for anyone who is a cut-up), Be Late for Something Day (a timely celebration), Great Bathtub Race (for those who like clean humor), and Play Days (sponsored by The HUMOR Project for the week following Labor Day).

Enjoy this month’s Laughing Matters… hopefully it will help you to experience TGIF (Thank God It’s Funday!). Feel free to forward this Laughing Matters e-zine to friends, colleagues, and family members and encourage them to sign up for a complimentary copy of our 2012 Humor Sourcebook and monthly e-mail newsletter at www.HumorProject.com.

Jest wishes,

Joel Goodman

Director, The HUMOR Project, Inc.

Table of Comments for September 2012:

1. Humor Quotes

2. Humor How To’s: Tips of the Month

3. Humor Conference 2012: Jestimonials

4. Coaching Corner with Margie Ingram: Lighten Up Your Life Tip #4

5. Reader’s Di-Jest: Praying for Humor

6. Pho-ho-ho-to Phun: Camera Comic Visions

7. Speakers Bureau Value Pricing Discounts for 2012

8. Cartoon Corner: Close to Ho-Ho-Home

 

1. Humor Quotes

Here are two of the quotes from September that appear in Laffirmations: 1,001 Ways to Add Humor to Your Life and Work (new quotes appear every day on our www.HumorProject.com home page):

• September 9: Comedy is allied to justice. (Aristophanes)

• September 21: Humor provides us with a valuable tool for maintaining an inner strength in the midst of outer turmoil. (Brian Deery)

To order a copy of the jest-selling (70,000+ copies) Laffirmations, go to HUMOResources on-line bookstore— please indicate if you would like it to be autographed to you or to someone else as a gift. This book (and the other great humor resources in our bookstore) would be an inexpensive way to give the priceless gift of humor.

2. Humor How To’s: Tips of the Month

Here are two humor how-to tips of the month. Drawing from September in Laffirmations:

• September 4: While in the midst of a stressful situation, give funny cards to friends, family or coworkers– like the card that show two fish swimming in a blender with the caption, “I can’t stand the tension.”
• September 10: Eat a lot of Chinese food! Tape fortune cookie fortunes to your bathroom mirror at home and on your desk at work to remind yourself to lighten up.

3. Humor Conference 2012: Jestimonials

We are still basking in the afterglow of all of the positive feedback for The HUMOR Project’s 55th conference on “The Positive Power of Humor and Creativity” on June 1-3. The weekend was filled with numerous standing ovations and has been widely described as “the most inspiring conference” we have ever offered. You can see what you missed at 2012 International Conference.

What follows is a small taste of the rave reviews we have received… to “wit” your appetite. We greatly appreciate all of the emails we have received with follow-up applause from our 2012 attendees. Keep those cards and letters and emails coming!

•  “The conference was relaxing, renewing, inspiring, humorous, funny, hopeful, awe-inspiring, calming, energizing, healthy, dynamic, transformative, creative, fun.” (Dina Hayduk)
• “I had the most wonderful weekend! Throughout the conference, I met so many wonderful, warm, and welcoming people! The keynote speakers were brilliant as were the concurrent sessions I attended. I went home motivated and inspired!” (Harald Ellingsen from Norway)
• “The conference began as perfect… and went up from there. I have been coming since 1986– it helps me get through the following year.” (Barbara Stretton)
• “The most useful for me personally was the interchange between SO many diverse people and professions under the banner of hope and optimism.” (Barb Hoff)
•  “The conference provided the opportunity to be in a beautiful setting celebrating humor amongst kindred spirits. I appreciate so much the work of The HUMOR Project to foster humor.” (Robin Coleman from New Zealand)
•  “You made a huge impact on our lives at the conference. The speakers you chose were outstanding! We don’t know how you do it!!! We can’t thank you enough for the hours and organization you put into the conference!” (Sharron and John Ducimo)
• “What a wonderful gift to spend this time with so many positive people working to make a difference in the world! The impact of this conference is amazing.” (Susan Slaninka)
•  “A weekend to revitalize, rejuvenate, and refocus… a time to smile and laugh so much your face hurts… a time to make new connections and contemplate new directions. Thank you thank you thank you.” (Aimee McMaster)
•  “This conference helped me recognize that there are an infinite number of ways to use humor to improve the quality of life. The benefits of living a life that includes humor are infinite as well.” (Donald Smith)
•  “What a great conference! I had a blast, made so many new friends, and hated to leave that beautiful setting. Everything was even better than I had hoped. Thank you for the love you pour into this calling of yours, The HUMOR Project!” (Carla Ulbrich)
•  “Goodness sakes alive, you have changed our lives forever. The conference over the weekend was perhaps the most profound social interactive and spiritual experience I have ever had. I am forever grateful.” (Steve Albahari)
•  “Thank you for putting together a fabulous conference. The caliber of talent displayed by both the attendees and speakers was astronomical. We loved the setting, the offerings, and the number of attendees. I was so touched by so many people and activities. When the crowd gave a Standing O for Gabrielle Giffords, I was floored.” (Janet Albahari)
•  “The HUMOR Project conference is certainly a place that you are sure to see beaming faces, bright smiles, broad grins, and hear lots of hearty laughter– belly laughs! Thank you for your leadership in creating a safe space for all of us to laugh, learn, heal, grow, and re-charge our batteries! With love, laughter, and gratitude.” (Sharon Alley)
•  “Thanks for an Electrific weekend!” (Carolyn Finch)

4. Coaching Corner with Margie Ingram: Lighten Up Your Life Tip #4

You grow up the day you have the first real laugh– at yourself. (Ethel Barrymore)

Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused. (Anonymous)

Now we’ve reached Tip #4 in a series to help you Lighten Up Your Life. Jest a reminder…

Tip #1: Pay attention to what makes you laugh throughout the week. The more conscious we are, the more we can be intentional in adding humor to our lives.

Tip #2: Look for the humor in your surroundings.

Tip #3: Spend at last two uninterrupted hours with a child under the age of 8. Allow yourself to immerse yourself in his/her world.

Tip #4: Laughing at Ourselves

Notice that I did not say, “laughing at others.” At The HUMOR Project, we advocate using tonic humor that builds relationships with others, not toxic humor that separates us from others. Laughing at ourselves, however, is essential to keeping our sanity each day.

• See the Reader’s Di-Jest below for a great example of being able to laugh at ourselves.
• What are 3-5 funny stories of bloopers you’ve uttered, mistakes you’ve made or embarrassing things you’ve done? Jot ’em down… and take time to share them with others. The more that we can laugh at ourselves, the lighter we’ll be.

Stay tuned to the next issue of our e-zine for hints on Putting It All Together!

Margie is a very successful life coach with clients from coast to coast. Sometimes she meets in person with clients, sometimes over the phone. Inspired by Gabby Giffords, Margie presented a pre-conference workshop on June 1, 2012 entitled “To Your Health!: Take Good Care of Yourself and Others in Pursuit of Happiness and Humor.” She also offered a workshop during the conference on “Using the ABC’s and Humor to Defuse Difficult People and Situations.”

For coaching to help you make intentional changes in challenging situations, to celebrate life, and to add zest to your life and work, contact Margie at 518-587-8770. Please visit Life Coaching to learn more about Margie’s Strengths-Based Life Coaching.

5. Reader’s Di-Jest: Praying for Humor

Over the past four decades, we have greatly appreciated our loyal alert legion of laugh-lovers. Rev. Jim Vargo from Missouri attended our conference for the fifth time. He agreed with Margie’s Coaching Tip #4 above when he sent the following entry to the Humor Drawing at our conference:

Funny things can happen in church! I’ve never been comfortable preaching from a pulpit. When I started to preach in Lutheran churches, I discovered I didn’t have to preach from the pulpit and during the hot summer months, I didn’t have to preach in a heavy robe.

On this one Sunday, it was so warm I took off my suit jacket as I was preaching. During the sermon, I got to feeling uncomfortable. There was soft laughter coming from the congregation. I glanced down and saw that my fly was unzipped!

What to do? Well, when in trouble, pray. So I said, “Let us pray!” I knelt down to zipper up. As I stood up to continue the sermon, the laughter got louder. My tie had snagged in my zipper!

What to do? What would you do? Well, I did what I do best… I knelt down and prayed again!

Pray tell… feel free to tell and send us your humor observations, anecdotes, quotes, and examples that have tickled your funny bone… so that we can give a Face Lift (Smile) to other readers. Send your humor contributions to Joel@HumorProject.com (please put “Reader’s Di-Jest” in the Subject Line).

6. Pho-ho-ho-to Phun: Camera Comic Visions

I have been having lots of fun lately shutterbugging with my camera and keeping my eyes open for humor. Here is a sign of/for the times to reinforce Margie’s Tip #4 in her Coaching Corner above:

7. Speakers Bureau Value Pricing Discounts for 2012

Over the decades, the 100 world-class presenters in The HUMOR Project’s Speakers Bureau have provided thousands of presentations for more than three million people around the world. We have loved the diversity of programs– for local, state, national, and international conferences… for associations… for government agencies… for schools… for hospitals… for human service agencies and non-profit organizations… for business corporations… and more! To get a taste for 30 sample topics and testimonials, check out our Speakers Bureau. We would be glad to explore program and presenter possibilities with you for 2012… and to have one of our speakers come to you and your organization or association!

Now, more than ever, individuals and organizations are looking for speakers who are motivating, inspiring, content-rich, and humorous. Applause and appreciation go out to these folks for bringing us in to present in the coming month: Todd Lunt from the Glens Falls YMCA, Deanna Walker (for the fifth time) from the New York State Conference of Mayors, Eric Ruby (for the second time) from Morton Hospital, Len Valletta from Albany Financial Group, Karen Jarvis and Nancy Rutledge from the MR/DD Nurses Association, Joe Hermann from Albany Financial Group, Kathy Weber from Fulton County Department of Social Services, and Julia Hayden from Community Hospice.

Be sure to visit www.HumorProject.com and look under “Important Messages” for HOHO 2012: Humor Outreach Humor Opportunity: Save Your Dollars and Cents… and Sense of Humor. Jest give us a call at 518-587-8770 ASAP to take advantage of our 2012 Value Pricing Discounts.

8. Cartoon Corner: Close to Ho-Ho-Home

We are fortunate to have an internationally-syndicated cartoonist close to home (right here in Saratoga Springs)… and in our Speakers Bureau: John McPherson. John presented two cartoon-rich sessions at our June conference– one on “Healthy Humor” and one on “Drawing the Line: Introduction to Cartooning.” With September being the start of the school year for many of our readers, we thought this cartoon from John would give you a timely chuckle:

If you have a blog (or Twitter or Facebook or LinkedIn, etc.), feel free to spread the humor wealth and point folks to our www.HumorProject.com Web site as a valuable humor resource (with new quotes, interviews, humor, and articles every day). Start a Humor Virus!

Feel free to request a complimentary copy of our 2012 Humor Sourcebook by calling us at 518-587-8770. You can also download a PDF copy of the 24-page 2012 Sourcebook at www.HumorProject.com.

 

 

 

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