No Role should be taken too seriously
Many students obsess on what score they’ll get on a standardized test, on what university they’ll get to attend, on how they look, etc. Many adults dwell on whether they’ll be able to get higher pay, a more prestigious job, a nicer car, or be the “perfect” spouse, worker, or parent.
While it is important that we do our best to fulfill our roles, it is even more important that we do not confuse who we are with our roles. One to do this is through humor. Dumbledore knew how to do this time and again.
When the Ministry of Magic tries to strip him of every one of his prestigious roles, he laughs it off.
after voting him “’out of the Chairmanship of the International Confederation of Wizards” and demoting “him from Chief Warlock on the Wizengamot” and threatening to take take “away his Order of Merlin, First Class, too” Dumbledore said “’he doesn’t care what they do as long as they don’t take him off the Chocolate Frog cards,’ said Bill grinning (Order of the Phoenix 95).
Was Dumbledore really that concerned about staying on the Chocolate Frog cards? I think ultimately he was laughing at the notion that the Ministry thought they could hurt him by removing him of posts and status when in the end, no one can rob us the essence of who we truly are.
<a href=”http://thehpalliance.ning.com/profiles/blogs/wwdd-on-the-lighter-things-in”>Sabriel</a> reminds us that Dumnbledore taught that it’s okay to be silly and
and childlike, and “to look on the bright side even in the worst situations.”
As the songs says, “You can go to extremes, with impossible schemes. You can laugh as your dreams fall apart at the seams. And here is the best part, you get a headstart, if you are amongst the very young at heart.” And Dumbledore was amongst the very young at heart.
I had a boss one time that was, well, to be quite blunt, a blooming idiot of the greatest proportions! I showed up everyday. I did my job, but I didn’t engage in conversation with him like I did my other co-workers.
I think I frightened him a bit (I have that effect on some people) because a co-worker told me that the boss didn’t think I respected him. I told my friend that I didn’t. I respected the position, but I most definitely did not respect the man in the position. He looked perplexed and I don’t think he ever understood the difference.
I agree. Don’t take life to seriously, you’ll never get out of it alive.
Yeah, I think this is pretty darn true. And a lot of people seem not to realise it.
As Oscar Wilde once said, “life’s too important to be taken seriously”. And by that, I don’t think he means to throw it away, I think he means to value more what truly matters, and value less what truly doesn’t.
I was raised in the Northwest US where my experience was that teachers were known on a first name basis. Even in high school most teachers were addressed by their first name. In both college and graduate school (Montana and Washington, respectively) I knew all my professors, advisors, and instructors by their first names. Recently I moved to a different part of the country where titles are not discarded and, in most cases, are taken too seriously. As a 23 year-old teacher — not professor
— at a community college, I am often mistaken as a student by the faculty I haven’t met. Some have treated me quite poorly, and it’s a bit worrisome to think they treat their students the same way! But, boy, isn’t it great when they’re “properly” introduced to me later that day!
I have a co-worker who really is the most horrible person and because I don’t like her I just don’t bother to speak to her. However, she is one of those people who thinks her position is something bigger than what it really is and as such she’s given herself this title of office manager when in reality all she is is the accounts payable manager. What’s really sad is no one likes her because she puts on airs.
In my school I know a group of girls who are all obsessed with grades and AP/SAT/ACT tests and getting into college. They also happen to be some of the most miserable people I know. They don’t sleep, they’re constantly stressed out, and they just never seem to be truly happy. I care, but don’t obsess, and I have a very pleasant life as a result.
I love this notion. I think as you grow into adulthood this is key…you will be forced into or willingly accept many roles, though they sometimes flow from who you are…they aren’t key to your identity…wife, mother, husband, dad…very serious roles, but never were intended by The Good Lord to encompass your identity! I LOVE THIS!!!
All very true.
I like to think that the only thing I worry about too much is my happiness and making sure I’m having fun (note: that is a paradox, so try not to think about it too hard
).
I’m lucky enough to be free to act how I want, write what I want, and essentially do what I want. Sure, there are things that I have to do, but when you have to do those things, it’s a lot more happiness-inducing to ‘walk into the arena with your head held high’ than be dragged kicking and screaming.
I think JustMe said it all.