laughing professionally.

There have been a few times during this in-between year where I've caught myself walking across campus in my professional attire--heels, blazer, headband--on my way to a meeting, business luncheon, or event, and I suddenly begin to smirk. This usually turns into a chuckle, or depending on how many hours of sleep I got the night before, sometimes it's all-out roaring  laughter. Laughter at myself. You see, the thing that activates this tiny fit of giggles is the thought of what people must be thinking when they look at me. "Wow, that girl carrying the leather porfolio notebook looks serious." "She must think she's really important."

But then I trip, or I clink my fork too hard on my plate during someone's speech, or I peek into a mirror and realize the curling iron didn't actually reach the back of my head this morning. And suddenly, I'm me again. Another smirk commences and I breathe a deep sigh knowing that while I may dress up and try to act the part, I'll always be the same girl I've always been. A walking contradiction. A gregarious girl who prefers shopping alone. A free spirit who's afraid to break the rules. A homebody who loves to travel. A grown-up who drinks beer through a straw.

(old friends always bring you back down to earth)

It's humbling--laughing at yourself--and it always reminds me how important it is not to take myself too seriously, or to take this immense, encompassing life too seriously either.

Here's to laughing. At anyone at anything. Just laugh.

"life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about."

         --oscar wilde