Yesterday, I fielded the question, “So, are YOU always full of levity?” which is strikingly similar to the other million dollar question I get asked fairly routinely, “Are YOU always laughing?” Both to which my mind seems to invariably add the words….”Hmmmmm? Well, Isn’t that special?” In a manner that hearkens back to Saturday Night Live’s Church Lady and her doubting and somewhat condescending way of asking questions.
I don’t think people mean to be ChurchLady-like but I do think it shows our societal tendency to approach something new with doubt or challenge rather than a true spirit of curiosity and wonder.
So, back to the question, “Am I ALWAYS laughing, frolicking, singing from a chair high in the air about how I love to laugh a la Mary Poppins?”
That’s easy. No, I am not. In fact, I can actually be a serious(ish) sort of person.
I am serious about:
* living my life well and taking every moment that I am here in this body on this planet at this time and making it an authentic expression of who I feel I am.
* loving those close to me as well as I know how. And I am serious about reaching out to those in my community and those in our global (rock on) community to do my part to bring us that much closer together.
*doing my best to learn how to do it all better and seeing the spiritual or intuitive lesson behind each life experience.
And most of all, I am serious about having fun and living joyfully.
If life really is short, why not try to at least have a good time and celebrate whenever possible?
To the person who asked me yesterday the Church Lady question, I offer you this as an explanation of why I am dedicate so much of my time and work to blogging about fun, play, and joy and why I coach people how to bring more freedom into their lives.
Dear Church Lady…
I believe at the deepest level, that Levity is essential to life. I believe that levity is what gives us the power to endure injustices, survive grief, and honor what is dark within us.
To me, levity is the tool I always want to make sure is in my tool box. And when I need it, I want to know this tool is sharpened and ready to use.
Levity in its now rare definition of buoyancy(since removed from dictionary) means we have a choice about whether or not we are going to hunt for the deep dark holes to crawl or fall into or whether we are going to keep our eyes open for the balloon string that will help lift us up to a higher place with a better vantage point- to a place of possibility, personal power, and peace.
Choosing levity whenever possible is what I consider my deeper practice of life. Living with a sense of buoyancy and wonder feel like the only appropriate way to offer my gratitude for getting to be on this most excellent planet and to live this most wonderful life.
Anything less would feel disrespectful.
It is about doing our best
So to you my dear church lady, yes, I may get grumpy some days, be impatient at times, or not laugh when it might benefit me to do so…such is life.
But what I have learned is that while there is great power in taking my life seriously, it is the act of learning to take myself more lightly that helps me to shine in the way I want to in this world.
And we are all on this journey together, learning to shine and live our lives fully with laughter, freedom and lightness.
Laugh with me Church Lady…it’ll be fun.
P.S (written 8/26) Okay…so my hubby said I sounded sort of grumpy in this post-He He-maybe that’s the point. The idea I am introducing is how we can all take turns being the Church Lady if we approach something in a “prove it” manner rather than being open. And I wanted to express how we can be engaging in a practice without being perfect…though I have heard that practice does lead to that. 
Someday, Umbrella Hats Will Rule the World.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Good article, Katie
Levity always trumps gravity. Someone said that angels fly because they take themselves lightly. Nice words.
Levity powers my spiritual practice and helps me recover from the bumps and thumps of day-to-day life.
Sing, Dance, Laugh. Energize your Day.
Eric Post
Genius Jester
Cool hat, Katie!
So, I’ll start out with what I see levity as: I see it as lightness of body, mind, spirit.
Life is short…and we never know how short it really may be. I choose to live a life filled with the abundance this world offers. Still, bad things happen. And some bad things are really sad things too. Death, sickness, injuries, abuse. In the face of any of these, finding levity can be difficult at best. Sometimes we can’t. Any of us, no matter how “cheery” our normal disposition toward life. And then some bad things are petty. Slow traffic, rude customer service, stepping on a piece of gum. We’re all human. And sometimes these things “get” us, and sometimes they don’t. And that’s okay.
So, Katie – I know you choose to live your life with an attitude of all that is possible. And I happen to think that’s pretty great! Keep on being YOU!! Know that your cheerful ‘you’ brightens my day…always… And because of that, I see those times when you might be less than your normal happy self as moments that are still uniquely you, and still shining your light into the world. And you are because that’s a light that comes from deep within you, and it’s a light that never goes out, no matter what you’re outside world is dealing with…
Katie that is a seriously cool hat! Although I thing propeller hats beat umbrella hats for levity’s sake. I’m not much of a hat guy but I do enjoy my safari hat.
Regarding these church lady like skeptics – screw em. I sometimes smell a bit of that when I hear (after sharing good news) the poorly disguised suspicion and jealousy of, “well, good for you.”
Those of us who are choosing life know how good it feels. Kudos to you and your mission. You are indeed lightening the world!
@Lance-o-rama I am so glad you said that sometimes it can be hard to access levity when life has us truly down or in a place of grief. People often think of levity and struggle as opposites as if levity is disrespectful to what is harder or devastating in life.
For me, levity has been the gift to get me out of each of those darker places. I think feeling the grief or difficulty is crucial and a part of life. I also think that allowing ourselves to become lighter and healthier and ALIVE again are also part of the cycle. Thank you as always for your wisdom.
@Eric Yes! I think of levity as my spiritual path too. People sometimes look at me cross eyed…but it is the idea that makes me re-evaluate what is true for me and helps to align my path. Thanks for visiting.
I just saw a seminar with a speaker who made the whole room laugh for 2 hours. I realized that I’m not built that way. I want to make people laugh and enjoy themselves, but I’m not really a comedian.
I realized that spreading my message is not just about being funny, it’s about having fun.
When I feel comfortable in my own skin the levity comes out naturally no matter what mood I am in.
wonderful thoughts. I miss laughing at the Church Lady.
I totally agree that sometimes it can feel like when we take a stand for what we believe in that there can be a perception that we have to be perfect at it or a poster-child for whatever we are taking a stand for. That used to hold me back from standing up for what I believe, but not anymore. Thanks.
Katie this was such a pleasure to read! I love meeting others with such positive energy and radiance coming off of them.
Yes there is a time to be serious perhaps, but that seriousness can still have levity in it. And all the others times, why not enjoy life like an innocent and awe struck child. After all this world is our playground, so why not enjoy it in the best ways we can!
Where can I get my very own umbrella hat?
The funny thing is to me Church Lady is actually a farce and a spoof and Dana Carvey is sooo funny in it. So even below the serious there is always fun.
My current post is not so fun, but those feelings shall pass if I do the Church Lady dance.
Someone once said to me without the cold and dark of winter we probably wouldn’t appreciate the warmth and light of summer so much.
I feel the same about the balance of levity and gravity in life. And you illustrated this so well in this post! It is foolish to think that anyone lives in a Mary Poppins movie, because that isn’t life. And the stuff that brings the seriousness and occasional grumpiness needs to be acknowledged and worked thru. The most important thing is that at the end of it all, when the day is done, you are able to laugh and/or smile and be happy with the results.