Essay by Luke Foster
“I think I have an inner confidence that my tastes are pretty simple, that what I find funny finds a wide audience. I’m not particularly intellectual or clever or minority-focused in my creative instincts. And I’m certainly not aware of suppressing more sophisticated ambitions.”
Rowan Atkinson
Over the last few years, I have been studying the teachings of the Dalai Lama in the hope to emulate him but as I go on further I seem to become more like the character: Mr Bean played by the comedian Rowan Atkinson in the way I am kind of goofy and naive a lot of the time.
I like this following quote by Toby Maguire as I feel that maintaining an innocence or naivety as you get older is not a problem but a great trait to maintain from childhood.
“I might have some character traits that some might see as innocence or naive. That’s because I discovered peace and happiness in my soul. And with this knowledge, I also see the beauty of human life.”
I guess what I like about Rowan Atkinson’s character is that he doesn’t mind making a fool of himself to lift the spirit of those watching him.
“Although you may not always be able to avoid difficult situations, you can modify the extent to which you can suffer by how you choose to respond to the situation.”
Dalai Lama
I think the best way to respond to a lot of difficult situations isn’t to take them to heart but rather to be silly and brush them off.
Mr Bean: “Enjoy your own company instead of expecting someone else to make you happy”
I like this Mr Bean quote and feel its silly but there is a lot of wisdom in it.
I love Mr Beans facial expressions as they crack me up particularly how he holds his mouth and his googly eyes.
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” “Laughter is good for thinking because when people laugh, it is easier for them to admit new ideas to their minds.”
Dalai Lama
I think the Dalai Lamas humour is his most amazing trait.
In conclusion I think one of the best things anyone can do is make fun of themselves and be silly as that doesn’t just lift your own spirits but also all of those around you.