Humor
Leigh Anne Jasheway
Leigh Anne Jasheway is a motivational speaker and stand-up comic who speaks at 40-60 conferences and workshops and performs at more than 30 shows a year. To date, more than one-quarter million people have seen her presentations.
She has a masters degree in public health, is an expert in stress management, and has 15 published books, including Don’t Get Mad, Get Funny: A Light-hearted Approach to Stress Management, Confessions of a Semi-Natural Woman, and Not Guilty by Reason of Menopause. She has won numerous writing awards, including the 2003 Erma Bombeck Humor Writing Competition.
In addition to her writing and speaking activities, Leigh Anne also hosts her own radio program, Women Under the Influence of Laughter, on KOPT AM in Eugene, Oregon. In her spare time, she hot flashes.
Her website is AccidentalComic.com.
The Twelve Holiday Steps
Hi, my name is Leigh Anne and I am a Holiday-a-holic. I celebrate all the winter holidays to excess. I hum carols in July. I’m here today to admit that I have a problem and to begin a 12-Step program for the holiday-addicted.
Words of Comedy Wisdom
Learning how, and when, and why to laugh can make us healthier and happier and completely prevent unwanted weight gain. Well, healthier and happier, anyway. Here’s how some of the world’s funniest people see things.
Comedy Yin and Yang
You’ve probably already noticed that almost everything that is meant to be funny has the same basic premise: Things Go Wrong. Comedy comes from life not working out the way we want it to. I think that’s beautiful.
Too Cool for School
Fashions may have changed, but the pressure to look good hasn’t. Every day is a test of where you fit in, whether you wear a Goth ensemble or an orange mohair dickey. There’s just one constant: never let Dad cut your hair.
Don't Sit Down!
It all started with a pain in my backside, a pain that was caused by...are you ready for this?...sitting. Of all the injuries you can have, pulling a muscle in your butt from perching on a chair has to be one of the most humiliating.
Summer Vacation
“Summer vacation!” Are there any two words in the English language that bring more joy to children and inner children alike? Looking forward to long sunny days spent doing next to nothing is about as close to nirvana as life gets.
Summer Separates the Boys from the Girls
While guys are blowing things up and marveling at how much horsepower their new riding BBQ has, many women are turning down potato salad and popsicles because they have too many calories, and don’t even get us started on the trans fats!
New Rules On Campus
If you haven’t been on a college campus lately, you might be surprised to learn the old rules have been replaced. Just to prevent embarrassment and confusion if you visit your children or grandchildren at college, let’s set the record straight.
Built for Comfort, Not for Speed
I guess it’s a sure sign of getting older, but I just bought a “comfort bike.” It has a wide padded seat, handlebars that let me ride almost upright, and a chocolate dispenser on the handlebars. Okay, maybe not, but a girl can dream, can’t she?
I Won’t Ballroom Dance, Don’t Ask Me
I love watching ballroom dancing. The graceful movement, the teamwork between partners, the costumes that are so over-the-top. Ballroom dancing is art, really. But just as with art, the world is better off with me as a spectator than a participant.
Converting Anger to Laughter
We humans naturally turn our anger, frustration, annoyance, and irritation into laughter. Eventually. Some of the funniest stories we tell on ourselves were things that got our goat (or llama or alpaca, whichever you choose) when they happened.
How to Create More Laughter in 2012
Laughter is vital for your survival and sanity. It reduces blood pressure, improves your immune system, increases good cholesterol, helps reduce headaches and other pain, lets us think more clearly, creates stronger emotional bonds, and so much more.
Why Isn’t He Laughing?
There are women whose sense of humor is very much like a man’s, and vice-versa...but they're exceptions. Men and women tend to be as different in their styles of humor as in everything else.
There's A Coupon For That
Lately, coupons scare me. Not the ones that show up in the newspaper on Sunday—those I love. The frightening coupons are those that print out as you finish checking out at the grocery store. Those give me the heebie-jeebies!
You Say Neanderthal Like It’s a Bad Thing!
Scientists recently reported that today’s humans almost all have a little Neanderthal in them. This is, I believe, the reason most of us eventually resort to plucking our eyebrows—we know deep down in our DNA that we won’t look good with a unibrow.
Fire It Up!
Once upon a time man invented fire. At which point he sat back, admired his handiwork, and wished he had a fermented beverage of some kind so he could celebrate. Woman, on the other hand, was skeptical. So it began.
Imperfectionists, Untie! (Uh...“Unite.”)
Spell-check doesn’t think “imperfectionists” is a word. It’s okay with “imperfectionist,” but make the world plural and oh no, it’s got a red line under it! That cracked me up. I guess there’s only one imperfectionist in the world and I am it!
Improv Your Life
The word “improv” scares people. To most, the idea of getting up in front of an audience and making up stuff on the spur of the moment seems like a form of torture instead of a fun way to pass a few hours while learning important life skills.
A Gardener's Confession
Hi, my name is Leigh Anne and I am a perennial-a-holic. I used to think I was just a social gardener, but more and more lately, I do it when I'm alone. I often buy perennials before noon and sneak them out of the car when no one is looking.
Meditate On This
I can’t meditate. I’ve taken workshops and read books. I’ve filled my house with accessories meant to help me get into the mood. I’ve even stalked people who were wearing yoga pants to see if a little of their calming spirit would rub off on me.
The Power of Maybe
“Maybe” leaves a door open. Rather than being noncommittal, it suggests taking time before jumping to conclusions, grabbing onto stereotypes, or making up stories that are completely false and serve only to make us angry and frustrated.
“I’m Rubber, You’re Glue…”
We all have voices in our heads that tell us we’re not good enough. These voices grow from seeds that are usually planted early in our lives by others—parents, siblings, teachers, friends, society. Our job is to quit watering them.
Humor vs. The Evil Self
No matter our gender or how effective we may be at talking and listening, we all fall into bad habits. There are humorous ways to help avoid turning into your evil self when communicating with those people who are important in your life.
