 If that were the case, then writing would be simply my hobby unless,
of course, I happened to be chasing a deadline. Then that shoulder
and grindstone scenario might exist.I have written more humor
columns than you can stick a shake at (intentional), and no, I've
never considered it work, but it is my job.
It's also a form of therapy for me. Did you ever have one of
those days when nothing went the way you thought it would? Instead
of everything going nice and smooth, you ended up running around
like a head with your chicken cut off (:D). What did you do about
it? Well, I seem to have more than my fair share of those kinds of
days, due to my own incompetence, no doubt. But as it turns out,
incompetence is actually a fine flaw to have if you happen to be a
humor columnist.
It's human nature for people to laugh at others' ineptitude. So,
in essence, your insensitivity is my good fortune.
My lack of cooking skills is one of those topics that I touch on
often because it's humorous to everyone except those people who have
to ingest my culinary disasters. Which reminds me: We just bought a
new toaster oven. I've never owned a toaster oven before and,
really, I needed to learn to use another appliance like I needed a
head in my hole (oops, that's going too far, isn't it?), but my
husband insisted that we needed it.
You will understand when you hear what I did to my first toaster.
How was I to know you can't cook pork chops in a toaster? They are
the perfect size, after all. However, not only was the drip pan
waaay too small, but the darn things kept popping up before they
were done. I always thought that my toast popped up because it was
done, but apparently it's a timing issue.
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That incident, like many others, was fumed about, analyzed, picked
at and wallowed in, until finally, I picked up a pen and wrote down
my thoughts. It was easy to see the humor in it after I had put it
down on paper. The written word can impart so much to its reader:
Information, inspiration, a call to action, storytelling and
entertainment. Just what it imparts is all in the formation of the
sentences, the punctuation, and the exact words and the order in
which they are written. It's an orchestra for the eyes, a ballet for
the mind. For writers, it's is not just therapeutic -- it's
life-giving.
Some people like to paint to relax. Some people like to go hiking
to clear their mind. Some people think cleaning the house or folding
laundry is relaxing -- although, those people are lunatics -- but
you get the point. Everybody's got something that calms and
rejuvenates them. If you have something like that, something that
just feeds your soul, I encourage you to find someone who'll pay you
to do it. Then you'll never have to work a life in your day (not
again!).
To those of you who read and enjoy my column: You are the ones
who have made it possible for me to make a living without working.
And I want to thank you for that from the heart of my bottom (I
couldn't resist). Without you, I'd still write, but it wouldn't be
half as much fun.
[By LAURA SNYDER]
Laura Snyder is a nationally syndicated columnist,
author and speaker. You can reach her at
lsnyder@lauraonlife.com
or visit www.lauraonlife.com
for more info.
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