A Little Coco with a Dash of Hilarity

When I was in high school, I spent nights glued to the TV watching Conan O’Brien on Late Night. His sarcastic tone and offbeat character sketches were a perfect match for my love of all things ridiculous, and after years of watching from the other side of the screen, I got to see him live last night in Dallas during his sixteenth stop on “The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour”.

Reggie Watts kicked off the evening addressing the audience in every accent imaginable and performing a number of comedic songs that kept me rolling. I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard since my husband and I watched a weeklong marathon of Flight of the Conchords on DVD.

As the night went on, familiar faces dotted the stage. Random sightings included Conan’s signature string dance, trombonist Richie “La Bamba” Rosenberg, Andy Richter, blues musician Jimmie Vaughan, a video appearance from Triumph, The Insult Comic Dog, comedian/actor Deon Cole, Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzk, and some questionably funny scenes from Walker, Texas Ranger.

As you can see by the wall and ceiling behind us, our seats were in the nosebleed section, but we didn’t care. The woman behind us said if we were any further back, we’d be outside, which was true, but I’m not complaining.

Spending that one night laughing with my husband at the absurd was one for the memory bank. Find something funny and laugh today. You’ll be glad you did.

Lead Like a Duck

Have you ever seen a mother duck taking her ducklings out for their first swim? She waddles her way to the water’s edge, and her crew follows so close they end up bumping each other, stepping on webbed feet, squawking back and forth. The mother goes in first, hoping her babies will follow.

A brave few hop in behind her, peddling their legs as fast as they can, feeling the strange yet exhilarating sensation of floating atop the foamy crest. The others stay on land, high-stepping in whatever direction their mother swims as she calls to them, encouraging them to jump for it.

It is this gentle coaxing that gives the ducklings the courage they need to dive in, and one by one they follow her leading, trusting that she knows what she’s talking about and that she won’t let them fall. Soon the whole group is reunited, paddling around together.

With Mother’s Day around the corner, I have to thank the mothers in my life for their leading, love and encouragement. I believe that we all have gifts and talents, and we need family and friends who encourage and support us as we stand at the edge of our major life decisions, career or otherwise, ready to take a leap.

You see I wasn’t one of the brave ones who dove in first. I got my degree, took jobs that were well suited for me, but they didn’t necessarily challenge me. It wasn’t until I started listening to those around me who gave me the push I needed to reach my potential that I actually jumped in, and when I did I finally felt like I was doing what I was created to do.

Sometimes we will be the mother duck, encouraging, leading. Other times we’ll be the ducklings. Look for giftings in those around you, and cheer them on as they pursue their endeavors. You may be the gentle nudge they were waiting for. Once they see someone is behind them, you’ll get to see the best part—the expression on their face when they’re splashing around in their destiny for the first time.