I Know What Stress Is

People go to comedy clubs because they want to laugh. Why do they want to laugh? The same reason they have sex. It makes them feel good. That’s the bottom line. Laughter simply makes you feel good. It charges your inner battery and helps you to cope with tough times. When you laugh, your body releases endorphins. Endorphins are manufactured by the body to relieve pain and reduce stress. Usually produced during periods of extreme stress, endorphins naturally block pain signals produced by the nervous system.

I know what stress is. I fly over 300,000 miles a year. Yes, that’s a lot of flying. Sometimes I’m in 7 cities in 10 days. Sometimes I have a half day seminar to give and my butt is dragging. You know the feeling. The one thing that gives me more positive energy, more than anything else is when I turn my Humor Being loose in a public setting. I am known for doing or saying out of the ordinary things in front of complete strangers that totally takes them by surprise. What cracks me up are the people that don’t get it or don’t know how to respond. Here’s an example.

I’m in hotels a great part of my life. And I’m always having fun with hotel staff. Once when I was at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, maid service knocked on my door; when I opened the door the woman said, “Mr. Rizzo can I turn down your bed?” I looked at her and said, “Why, is it too loud?” She didn’t get it. You should have seen the look on her face as she walked away mumbling and confused. After she walked away I left my room. When I returned later that night I noticed that they did turn down my bed. I think turn-down-service is a wonderful service, but for the life of me I will never understand the little piece of chocolate that’s placed on your pillow. Let’s think about this shall we. You’re supposed to consume the chocolate before you go to sleep. Hmmm, I started thinking. “Why don’t hotel people know what the rest of us know? Chocolate does not help you sleep!” In fact, it has the complete opposite effect! Laughing at the absurdity of this ritual, the comedian in me decided to have a little fun. I called the front desk the next morning. This is the conversation took place.

Front desk person: “How can I be of service this morning, Mr. Rizzo?”

Me: “I’m just calling to thank you for the chocolate that was on my pillow last night. It really helped me sleep.”

Front desk person: “You are most welcome. I’m glad you slept well, Mr. Rizzo. Is there anything else we can do for you sir?”

Me: “Yes, as a matter of fact, there is. I was wondering, maybe tonight, if you could put a vile of crack and a pot of coffee on my pillow. I think that will help me sleep!” Wait until you hear the response I got.

Front desk person: “Oh, I don’t think we can do that! First of all crack is illegal! And as far as the coffee goes, all you need to do is call room service before you retire!”

Yep; that’s right, another one just didn’t get it. But just because they don’t get it doesn’t mean I can’t have fun. I can’t stress to you enough how turning my Humor Being loose and laughing at situations I create lifts my spirits. And it’s even an extra boost when others are laughing along with me.

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