Fail Funny: A reminder from your friendly neighborhood Improv coach

This holiday season? It’s gonna be a mess. I mean can't we all just agree on that??

So. How about a different way of BEING: 

Not self-care.

Not "boundaries."

Not slowing down. 

WE'VE TRIED THAT. (I mean yeah fine whatever sure do all that too but also....)

How about looking at the F'D-UP SITUATIONS WITH...well how about GLEEEEEEE?? 

I'm talking burnt meals, late planes, gifts that don't arrive, sister-in-law takes allllll the air out of the room talking about her new business.... (Girl?? WE. DON'T. CARE. ABOUT. YOUR. AI. MARKETING. PLAN.)

And flip that s**t! 

Make it a hilarious fail! 

Right?? This is what improv comedy taught me. Let’s say you're in a scene that’s not going well because you and your onstage partner mis-hear each other. One of you thought the scene was about a wedding ceremony and the other thought it was about a proposal. Oh no! You realize you're taking the scene in two different directions. Usually, the scene can be saved by letting the audience in on the failure — by inviting them to laugh with you. Rather than fighting each other on which scene to move forward with, you can jokingly acknowledge the mistake but in character: perhaps it's a wedding but the mother-of-the-bride is proposing to the preacher! Who knows! But use what you're given, don’t fight it, and enjoy the chaos!

For example… Worst food disaster ever? Eat only the desserts! Order in something no one has ever eaten before and do a blindfolded tasting! Or have the middle school cousins cook the potato latkes! Result? MEMORABLE. 

Late plane? We once spent the night before Christmas Eve singing carols with all 6 members of TSA in Bozeman, Montana. 

Gifts that don't arrive or you forgot to get? During COVID when my summer camp staff couldn't give gifts to each other at the end of camp ('cause ya couldn't touch stuff and then hand it off... remember THAT???) we gave "imaginary gifts" with gorgeous stories behind them and genuine explanations about what we appreciated about each other. We decided to stick to that forever. 

And annoying relatives? Ummmm... okay not sure about this one but maybe "accidentally" lock yourself in the bathroom with your phone and earbuds and watch Emily In Paris ‘til the fire dept gets you out?? Dunno. Just spitballing here. 

What stands between us and a joyful, fun, connected holiday season (95% of the time) is the way we see it and how we think it's supposed to go. 

Try this mentality on for size before the holidays kick in. You have a couple weeks to wake up that creative part of your brain. The one that improvises, adapts, problem solves, and LAUGHS at it all. 

I mean you might need to save some of the laughing for later when the guests are gone (like the laughing at them part)... Or not! Laughing is by definition seeing things with perspective. And everyone could use that. Especially when the dog pees on the tree. (True story.)

Happy Holidays!!