The other night, I was watching a hilarious movie called Deep Cover—and it reminded me how much of life comes down to perspective, and how finding a little humor can change the way we see things when plans go sideways.
In the film, a group of improv actors pretends to be criminals. Their only rules are:
- Always trust your partner.
- Always say “yes, and…”
- Always stay in character.
Simple, right? Well, much like real life, things don’t always go smoothly. And that’s when the best moments happen—when the mishaps turn into memories and a good laugh becomes the best way through.
I loved the chemistry between the actors—their clowning, banter, and bumbling energy. It made me wonder: Could I do improv?
When I mentioned this to my husband (who’s often laughing at the silly things I say or do), I asked, “What is it about me that’s funny?”
He paused—for an embarrassingly long time—and said, “I don’t know. Can I get back to you?”
Thanks for the vote of confidence, honey.
But when the movie credits rolled and Tom Jones started singing “It’s Not Unusual to Be Loved by Anyone,” I was already up—dancing, singing, and completely lost in the moment.
Did I know all the words? No. Did that stop me? Absolutely not.
Was my husband crying from laughter or embarrassment? Honestly, still unclear.
Finding Humor and Improv in Real Life
Improv actors say, “Always stay in character. No matter what.” You’re given a scene and a role, and you just go with it—whatever happens next.
Imagine this: a late summer backyard scene with a friendly game of Monkey in the Middle. The cast?
- Mom (me)
- My son, James
- Our two-year-old boxer, Marz
You haven’t seen competitive sports until you’ve seen Marz in action—ears flapping, tongue hanging out, Olympic-level focus locked on the flying Frisbee.
Now, Marz doesn’t fetch. He intercepts. Think linebacker energy in a hairy suit.
James threw the Frisbee perfectly. I missed it. As I bent to pick it up, Marz launched all seventy-eight pounds of himself straight at me. My legs went flying—a textbook tabletop takedown. One moment I was reaching for the Frisbee; the next, I was flat on my back, blinking at the sky, inventing a new yoga pose called Fallen Branch.
My son laughed so hard he had to sit down. That kind of laughter that starts loud and ends silent—clutching your sides, tears streaming down your face.
Several minutes later, after catching his breath, James asked, “Are you okay?”
In our family, that’s code for: I’ll remember this forever—and never let you forget it.
“I’m fine.” I said. “No blood, nothing broken. I’m fine.”
The Meaning of FINE
I use this word a lot and recalled something a friend once told me, “You know what fine really stands for? Feelings In Need of Expression.” She shouted the last part at me, making a big show of it. And it stuck with me–maybe finding humor in those everyday missteps is another kind of expression.
Maybe all those moments when I fall, burst into song, or act out a movie scene are just feelings that need a little airtime.
Isn’t that what improv is, really? Trusting your partners, saying “yes, and…” to whatever surprise comes next, and staying true to your character—especially when the plot goes sideways and the dog steals the scene (and the Frisbee).
Life’s funniest moments usually happen by surprise—and finding humor in everyday life is what turns them into lasting memories.
Saying “Yes, And…”
While I may not be ready to master improv—or even a Frisbee—I’ll keep saying “yes, and…” to new adventures, trusting my family to see the fun in the mess-ups, and staying in character—even when my over-exuberant co-star takes me down.
Because that’s what it means to keep finding humor in everyday life—to laugh at the small stumbles, the missed catches, and the beautiful chaos that reminds us we’re human.
Because life, like improv, is unscripted.
And sometimes the best lines (and landings) are the ones we never planned.
Art of Feeling Right