“[Humanity] has unquestionably one really effective weapon—laughter. Power, money, persuasion, supplication, persecution—these can lift at a colossal humbug—push it a little—weaken it a little, century by century, but only laughter can blow it to rags and atoms at a blast. Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.”

 — Mark Twain

So today, in the name of mindfulness (the quality of our lives depends on the focus of our attention) AND No big deal*** (not taking ourselves or anything for that matter too seriously),

I offer you Cookie Monster:

Cookie Monster as Life Coach

Cookie Monster Practices Waiting.

**How to Stop Making a Big Deal About Your Problems:

“Meditation teaches us how to let go. It’s actually a very important aspect of friendliness, which is that you train again and again in not making things such a big deal.

When you have pain in your body, when all sorts of thoughts are going through your mind, you train again and again in acknowledging them openheartedly and open-mindedly, but not making them such a big deal.

Generally speaking, the human species does make things a very big deal. Our problems are a big deal for us. So we need to make space for an attitude of honoring things completely and at the same time not making them a big deal.

It’s a paradoxical idea, but holding these two attitudes simultaneously is the source of enormous joy: we hold a sense of respect toward all things, along with the ability to let go. So it’s about not belittling things, but on the other hand not fanning the fire until you have your own private World War III.” —Pema Chodron

How about you? What makes you laugh? When can you say “no big deal”, and when do you find yourself in a “big deal”?