Today's Comedy Around the World goes to Holland.  For the in-crowd, it's "The Netherlands," for some reason.  

It's funny--literally--when we don't know the reasons why people do certain things.   Not just the names of countries, but where their people live, too.  

While visiting my friend Jeroen in Nijmegen (birthplace of many stars of art and literature, for example the van Halen's) I noticed some things about his family's house.  The name of the street was Tolhuis.  We know it as Tollhouse--like the chocolate chip cookies.  Probably a very good reason for the street name, but I didn't know what it was.  It was funnier not knowing, and just recognizing the irony.  

Dutch houses aren't big.  They are tall.  One floor could have only two rooms, with a staircase that leads to several floors of other two-room floors. 

There has to be some humor there, simply because it was so different than American houses.  We want wide-open spaces.  But Holland doesn't have enough space for everyone, so they reach for the stars.  

Yes, I realize none of this is particularly or hilariously funny.  But more importantly, it IS the start of something funny.  Just noticing these interesting differences opens up a way for us to be more creative.  Then we CAN find the humor and build from that.  Right up to the stars. 

"Get Your SHINE Together!"