All You Need Is. . . Well A Lot

“To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.” Reba McEntire

Don’t crucify me, but I am not completely familiar with McEntire’s work. I came across this quote on social media, immediately looked her up and found out she is a country singer. Maybe I’ve been wrong for neglecting country music all these years, but that’s a discussion for a later date.

For now I just want to focus on this quote, because it really stuck with me. When I read it I see the three things McEntire is talking about as hope, courage, and a sense of humor. The last of these three is important for our endurance.

Like many people I have faced my fair share of failures in life. It could be small ones like not making the varsity lacrosse team my sophomore year of high school; larger ones like not getting the job I wanted out of undergrad; and ones I expected like never getting a response from Zoe Kravitz on social media.

These three “bones” as McEntire phrases it are what gives us our drive, our courage, and our ability to try again when things get tough. Because humor really does serve an important purpose. When we are feeling down about our circumstances, that one thing that can always make us forget about our problems is laughter.

I know this isn’t the case for everyone but when people try to comfort me by matching my miserableness, we end up just wallowing in company and neither one of us feel better. I know some people just need a friend, but if I’m hovering over a rejection letter from an agency that was supposed to give me my big break, I don’t want a friend to tell me about all the times they failed in life. I want laughter dammit!

It’s why after every break up I have a comedy break up movie at the ready. No way am I watching Marley and Me when a girl rips my heart out. I’m watching Forgetting Sarah Marshall and I am going to be Jason Siegel for the evening.

So find hope because it will open a world to you you never thought was possible. Use that wishbone to pursue a dream, because what’s the point of life it you aren’t doing everything in your power to pursue your dreams.

Use your backbone to stand up to the hardships. Face down the adversities and climb the obstacles standing in your way because nothing worth getting was ever easy.

Finally the funny bone. Find and keep that sense of humor because unless you were kissed by God you’re going to fail and you’re going to need to laugh it off because laughing it off is the only way you’ll ever try again. Fear’s greatest enemy is laughter and as long as you can laugh at yourself you’ll drive out the fear telling you to give up.

So thank you Reba. In your honor I will listen to country music tonight, laugh at all the silly mistakes I’ve made recently, and get back to pursuing my dream tomorrow.