Everyone Should Have This Type of File

It’s a “Smile File” — a  place to save favorite cartoons, emailed jokes and funny quotes/bumper stickers/signs, special notes from colleagues and friends, photos of fun times, etc. In stressful times, it serves as a wonderful reminder to take a deep breath and lighten up.

I have both a print Smile File in a filing cabinet and an online version in an email folder. With most humor being shared online these days, my Smile File e-folder has been updated more frequently. I recently looked through my hard copy Smile File for amusement, and here’s a sample of what I found:

  • A corporate structure model that includes the Chairman of the Board (“Leaps tall buildings in a single bound … is more powerful than a locomotive … walks on water”), Executive Vice President (“Leaps tall buildings with a running start & favorable winds … is almost as fast as a switch engine … walks on water in an indoor swimming pool”) and General Manager (“Makes high marks on wall when trying to leap buildings … is run over by locomotive … dog paddles”).
  • A handout of Workplace Rules regarding work quantity (“No matter how much you do, you’ll never do enough”) and quality (“The minimum acceptable level is perfection”).
  • Postcard with “Rude Awakening #457: Nobody really cares what your GPA was.”
  • Stress diet tips such as “Cookie pieces contain no calories. The process of breakage causes caloric leakage.”
  • Lists of humorous advice such as:
    • Be here now. Be someplace later. Is that so hard?
    • Buckle up. It makes it harder for aliens from outer space to snatch you from your car.
    • Life is short … make fun of it.

What’s in your Smile File?

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