First let me tell you just a
little about myself. I am in a
constant fight with depression (surprise!), you know I’m not lying because of
the depression I’ve left in the couch (roll snare drum). I guess I deal with depression the way I deal
with everything else in my life, with humor.
Ive been doing stand up comedy for the last couple of years and they
seem to feed each other. The depression
gives me the focus I need to write about how much my life sucks but if none of
it goes over too well the depression kicks up again…. But it helps! I’m not advising anyone to do stand up comedy
because it can suck and just make things worse especially if you’re not funny
but writing is good therapy. But wait,
you don’t know what to write about. Sure you do, I’ll help you that’s why I’m
here but lets have some fun along the way.
This blog is gonna be dedicated not fixing you but trying to
brighten your day a little and letting you know that life sucks and we’re all
in it together. When you’re depressed
the hardest thing to do is feel better about your situation and to put a smile
on your face. I think you just need to
find the right smile because there are different kinds. I’ve always hated the “I’m happy” smile,(those
happy bastards) it just seems like showing off. Then there is the “I’m nervous”
smile (I know this one all too well), I personally like this one because it
drives people away instead of inviting them in.
The one that comes easy when you’re depressed is the “ha ha you just fell
down” smile, this is my favorite one because it doesn’t mean you’re happy or
pretending anything, you’re just enjoying another persons embarrassing moment.
Enjoying another persons pain seems harsh but it works (wow
that sounds way worse than I intended) for a good laugh. I don’t mean to go be a bully and start
pushing people down what I mean is that basically comedy is tragedy plus
time. The theory is pretty simple its
basically the equivalent of imagining pushing your bully down a flight of
stairs, you would never do it but it makes you feel good just to think about
it. Works the same way with your
personal problems like making the joke first before anyone else does taking the
power away from everyone else. Lets try an exercise.
This is how I write my comedy but it also works as therapy and
having a good laugh at yourself. First make
a list of things you hate about yourself. For example- being fat,skinny, being
weird, dull, ugly, poor, rich (you get the idea). Next pick one. Now start
making jokes (yes its as simple as it sounds, don’t worry I have
examples). For example, lets say you’re
depressed that your overweight girlfriend just dumped you (I know that seems
really specific but it happened to me I just wasn’t depressed about it, don’t look
at my like that I’m not lying). Lets start
making fun of your fat girlfriend (remember these are not to use anywhere else
other than on your page or the stage, don’t be a bully).
The following is my thought process while writing a joke.
Lets start with how fat she is. Being fat is gross. Her being
naked is gross. Here is the joke- my fat girlfriend was naked in the bed when I
walked into the room and she said she wanted me to do anything to her… so I
dressed her.
Now if that made you laugh you just experienced the kind of
laugh that is even still possible when you’re depressed (maybe that’s why its
my favorite kind of laugh). Making fun of your problems is the best way to get
over them (it works for me) so give it a shot.
Or maybe if you want me to do some of the heavy lifting for you let me
know what to make fun of in the comments and we can make fun of it together.
If you want some extra laughs follow me on twitter
@smellyfingertee
Don’t forget, Don’t Be A Bully, Ridicule Responsibly!
